Mbappé brace lifts France to 3-1 win over Senegal and makes him France’s top World Cup scorer

Kylian Mbappe renewed his remarkable relationship with the World Cup Tuesday as he scored twice in France's 3-1 win over Senegal, leaving him within touching distance of Lionel Messi as he bids to become the tournament's highest ever scorer.Ahead of him lie only Brazil's Ronaldo, with 15, as well as Lionel Messi and Germany's Miroslav Klose, who have 16 after Messi became the joint leading scorer in tournament history thanks to a dazzling hat-trick later Tuesday against Algeria.

The 27-year-old superstar matches Gerd Müller’s tally of 14 World Cup goals and becomes France’s all-time leading scorer after a 3-1 victory over resilient Senegal.

New Jersey: Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant brace in the second half to star in France’s 3-1 comprehensive win over Senegal in their opening Group I match at the MetLife Stadium in Eastern Rutherford here on Tuesday.  Knuckle shoot from Kylian Mbappe Mbappe scores 2 at this game against Senegal #soccer #football #france #senegal pic.twitter.com/U8Mb9N6VD6— Football & World Cup Enthusiasm (@Footballers501) June 17, 2026 Senegal had more chances in the first half and controlled the game while pre-tournament favourites France looked out of ideas due to low-line defending by African giants, led by skipper Kalidou Koulibaly. Attackers Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr, and veteran Sadio Mane gave the French defense a tough time. After a sloppy first half, France came out roaring back in the second half to score goals through Mbappe and Bradley Barcola. Senegal pulled one back through substitute Ibrahim Mbaye, but Mbappe sealed the deal with a record-breaking goal to give two-time champions a rollicking start to the showpiece event.  : Bradley Barcola opens his World Cup account in style for France ‍A delicate little dink over the goalkeeper… pure composure ✨And that pass… pic.twitter.com/NLWLmgG7VD— Fanxietyfc (@fanxietyfc) June 16, 2026 Bradley Barcola came off the bench and scored his first World Cup goal just two minutes later pic.twitter.com/UQ8zcfs6sR— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 16, 2026 The Real Madrid striker became the highest scorer for France with 58 goals in 99 internationals to surpass Olivier Giroud’s record of 57 goals. Giroud is currently providing expert commentary on broadcast channels such as the BBC.  Mbappe followed up on his last World Cup game when he scored a hat-trick against Argentina in the final to stretch his overall tally to 14 in his third premier quadrennial event, just two behind all-time leader Miroslav Klose of Germany. The hat-trick had come in a losing cause in Qatar, but on Tuesday, he stood up when it mattered the most to ensure there was no repeat of his country’s loss to Senegal during their World Cup league game in 2002.  | Most goals scored at a World Cup:• Miroslav Klose — 16• Ronaldo — 15• Kylian Mbappé — 14 • Gerd Müller — 14• Lionel Messi — 13• Just Fontaine — 13• Pelé — 12 pic.twitter.com/geJNSWGNzi— Goals Side (@goalsside) June 16, 2026 The French star had an ordinary first half and continued to miss chances after the break. He was denied by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy a clear goal at least a couple of times. However, he lifted the vociferous fans in a packed stadium with over 80,000 crowd again in attendance, by breaking the deadlock in the 66th minute after Michael Olise sent in a diagonal ball from the right. France’s prolific goalscorer had positioned himself perfectly to collect Olise’s ball and get the better of Mendy this time by sweeping the ball into the net.  The goal came five minutes after France lost a review on the VAR check of a possible penalty for Mane’s challenge inside the box on Mbappe. He had earlier missed a clear chance on Olise’s pass near the goal in the 64th minute, losing footing as Mendy grabbed the ball.  Mais ce but là !!! #mbappé #mundialdefútbol2026 pic.twitter.com/ar7OebKdgT— Jeanne Baron (@jeannebarontv) June 16, 2026 France manager Didier Deschamps replaced an off-colour PSG striker, Ousmane Dembele, and it worked immediately as his replacement, Bradley Barcola, also from PSG, seized the opportunity on World Cup debut to calmly lob the ball over advancing Mendy into the net after Adrien Rabiot sent in a nice low pass. Winger Olise got Dembele’s position in the center, and he looked more lethal in feeding attackers, especially Mbappe.  Mbaye came from the bench to pull one back for Senegal in the injury time. The African giants were anxious to get the second goal quickly and restore parity, and Mbappe capitalised on their desperation with another clinical finish in the dying moments.  The Senegal defenders have done an excellent job of shutting down France’s attackers and preventing them from making any real impact on the game. #FRASEN #France #Senegal #FIFA pic.twitter.com/4mQtYynS3B— seromo hero (@HeroSeromo23632) June 16, 2026 Senegal was a superior team in the first half and had five attempts on goal to France’s just one, but once they failed to make their dominance count, it was going to be difficult for them to contain the Les Blues' menacing forward line of Desire Doue, Olise, and Mbappe. Even though Dembele struggled, young Barcola lifted the pace once he came on the pitch. The last quarter was more thrilling with four goals being scored, which excited even the New York Knicks players in-house, who recently won the NBA title after 54 years.  

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France overcame early wobbles to open their World Cup account with a 3-1 win against Senegal on Tuesday while reigning champions Argentina prepared to make their bow.Senegal posed a serious challenge in the first half at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey but after half-time Kylian Mbappe scored the 13th and 14th World Cup goals of his career, the second a memorable strike from distance.

EAST RUTHERFORD, United States — Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France launched their bid for a third World Cup crown with a 3-1 victory over Senegal in Group I on Tuesday. Real Madrid star Mbappe took his career World Cup goals tally to 14 –- two behind all-time leader Miroslav Klose –- and Bradley Barcola was also on target as Les Bleus secured all three points for Didier Deschamps’ side. Mbappe darted across the penalty area to convert a brilliant Michael Olise pass on 66 minutes to break the deadlock in a contest in which France struggled badly in the […]...Keep on reading: World Cup: France with Mbappe's double gets opening win over Senegal

France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal against Senegal. Photo: Reuters Kylian Mbappe struck twice to lead France to a dominant 3-1 victory over Senegal in World Cup Group I and become his country's all-time record goalscorer.