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Kylian Mbappe added another remarkable chapter to his international career on Tuesday, as he scored twice to help France defeat Senegal 3-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. Thanks to the brace, Mbappe also became France’s all-time leading scorer and climbed into a tie for third on the tournament’s all-time goalscoring list.
Mbappe Leads France Past a Resilient Senegal
Senegal pushed France hard throughout a tightly contested first half, and the game stayed level for long stretches. However, the breakthrough finally came just after the hour mark. Michael Olise threaded a precise pass into Mbappe, who calmly slotted the ball home to put Les Bleus ahead.
Soon after, France doubled their lead through substitute Bradley Barcola, who showed great composure to chip the ball over goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. Senegal then responded through Ibrahim Mbaye, who pulled one back and briefly threatened a comeback. Still, France held firm and sealed the win in stoppage time, when Mbappe surged forward and curled in a stunning effort from 30 yards out.
Kylian Mbappe. Credits: X/@KMbappe
Mbappe Climbs the World Cup Scoring Charts
Before kickoff, Mbappe sat level with Brazilian legend Pelé on 12 World Cup goals. With his first strike against Senegal, he moved past Pelé. Then, with his second goal, he also drew level with his own countryman, Just Fontaine, before edging ahead of him too.
By full time, Mbappe’s tally stood at 14 World Cup goals overall, which moved him into a tie for third on the competition’s all-time list, alongside West Germany great Gerd Muller. Only Germany’s Miroslav Klose and Argentina’s Lionel Messi now sit above him, with 16 goals each, while Brazil’s Ronaldo remains just ahead with 15. Notably, Messi reached the same mark of 16 later that same day, after scoring a hat trick against Algeria.
Despite the close race at the top, Mbappe’s achievement is still significant. He made his World Cup debut as a 19-year-old back in 2018 and helped lead France to the title that year, scoring four goals along the way. Now, at 27, he continues to add to his legacy with each tournament.
A New Record for France
Beyond the World Cup charts, Mbappe also etched his name into French football history. His brace against Senegal took his international goal tally to 58, which allowed him to move past Olivier Giroud and become France’s all-time leading scorer.
Mbappe has now scored in three successive World Cups, further cementing his place among the game’s greats. Speaking after the match, France defender William Saliba reflected on the emotional swing of the game and praised his captain’s instant response. Saliba recalled how Senegal had scored first, and just a minute later, France answered back immediately with a brilliant goal of their own.
Saliba also backed Mbappe to eventually become the outright World Cup top scorer. He expressed confidence that Mbappe has all the qualities needed to break the World Cup scoring record and added he hopes his captain can achieve it during this very tournament.
What Comes Next
With his goal-scoring form showing no signs of slowing down, all eyes will now turn to Mbappe’s next appearances in the tournament. France will look to build on this strong start as they continue their push for World Cup glory, while Mbappe edges ever closer to the very top of the sport’s most prestigious scoring list.
