Mbappé Breaks France Scoring Record as Les Bleus Defeat Senegal in World Cup Opener

France began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a convincing victory over Senegal, powered by a record-breaking performance from captain Kylian Mbappé. The star forward scored twice as France secured a 3-1 win, while also becoming the highest-scoring player in the history of the French men’s national team.

The highly anticipated Group-stage encounter saw France assert their credentials as one of the tournament favourites. Mbappé, already regarded as one of the world’s premier footballers, delivered another memorable display on the international stage by surpassing the previous French scoring record and adding a historic milestone to his career.

France took control of the match through their attacking intensity and quick movement in the final third. Mbappé opened the scoring to give his side an early advantage and continued to trouble the Senegalese defence with his pace and creativity. Although Senegal responded with a goal of their own and showed resilience throughout the contest, France maintained the upper hand.

The French captain struck again later in the match to restore his team’s cushion and ensure that Senegal’s hopes of a comeback were effectively ended. A third goal completed the scoring and sealed an important victory for the former world champions.

The achievement marked another landmark moment in Mbappé’s remarkable international journey. Having already won major honours with France, including the World Cup earlier in his career, the forward now stands alone as the country’s most prolific men’s international goalscorer. His latest performance reinforced his status as the focal point of the French attack and one of the leading figures at the tournament.

Senegal, meanwhile, earned praise for their determination and competitive display against one of the strongest teams in the competition. However, they struggled to contain France’s attacking quality for the full ninety minutes. The victory gives France an ideal start to their World Cup campaign and places them in a strong position in the group standings. With Mbappé in record-breaking form, Les Bleus will be confident of mounting another serious challenge for football’s biggest prize.