What records did Mbappe break in France and the World Cup against Senegal? | World Cup 2026 news

The France captain has surpassed Giroud with 58 goals for his country and the most for the Blues in a World Cup.

Any doubts about Kylian Mbappe’s status as one of the world’s greatest footballers were dispelled when he topped the charts statistically with two goals in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal in their World Cup opener.

The 27-year-old became France’s all-time top scorer on Tuesday, surpassing Olivier Giroud with 58 goals. In a circular moment, Giroud, commentator for Tuesday’s match against Senegal, congratulated Mbappe live when he scored again in the 96th minute.

Mbappe also became France’s top scorer at the World Cup with 14 goals, as well as the youngest player ever to reach that number. He broke Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals, all scored in the 1958 World Cup.

Mbappe is just two goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s record in World Cup finals, another record he could break when France faces Iraq next week in Philadelphia. He ranks third on the list behind Brazilian Ronaldo with 15 goals, although he surpasses Argentine icon Lionel Messi with 13 goals in the World Cup.

Mbappe posted on social media shortly after the record-breaking match but did not mention personal achievements.

“It’s always important to start winning. It’s going to be a long road, but we’re ready,” he wrote on Instagram.

For his first goal in the 2026 edition, Mbappe raced through the penalty area to convert Michael Olise’s wonderful pass in the 66th minute, breaking the deadlock in a match in which France struggled in the first half but came back to life after the break.

Then Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barkola came on as a substitute to score the second goal late, before his teammate Ibrahim Mbaye reduced the deficit in stoppage time for Senegal.

But Mbappe saved the best for last, striking a long-range effort in the 96th minute to seal the win.

Mbappe is no stranger to World Cup stardom; He led France to victory in Russia 2018 when he was only nineteen years old.

What other records did Mbappe break?

His only goal for France against Peru in 2018 made him the youngest French player to score in a World Cup, and the second teenager, after Pele, to score in a World Cup final. Mbappé’s performance earned him the FIFA Young Player of the Year award, while he was also named France’s Player of the Year.

Although Argentina, led by Messi, denied France a consecutive victory in 2022, Mbappe’s hat-trick in the World Cup final was only the second time this feat had been achieved. Englishman Geoff Hurst did it in 1966 at Wembley when the team beat West Germany 4-2.

Mbappe’s goals on Tuesday mean he has scored in three World Cup finals in a row, and is the only player to score two or more goals in five different World Cup matches.