Kylian Mbappe Shines as France Kicks Off FIFA World Cup 2026 with Victory Over Senegal
France's Strong Start in World Cup 2026
New Jersey, USA - On June 17, Kylian Mbappe expressed his satisfaction with France's impressive opening to their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey, following a 3-1 victory against Senegal. The star forward emphasized the significance of starting the tournament on a winning note.
In a post on X after the match, the captain of France highlighted the team's determination to build on this momentum, acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead. "It's always crucial to begin with a win. The journey will be lengthy, but we are prepared," Mbappe stated.
Toujours important de commencer par une victoire. Le chemin sera long mais nous sommes prêts.
pic.twitter.com/JhPbpUQopN — Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 16, 2026
France commenced their Group I campaign with a commanding performance, with Mbappe at the forefront as they triumphed over a resilient Senegal team in New Jersey. This win marked a positive beginning for the 2018 world champions as they aim to sustain their form throughout the group stage.
With his two goals, the French striker not only surpassed Lionel Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring rankings but also became France's all-time leading scorer. His contributions are particularly significant as Les Bleus are viewed as strong contenders following their 2018 victory and their appearance in the 2022 final.
The first half was tightly contested, but the breakthrough for France came shortly after the hour mark when Michael Olise delivered a precise pass to Mbappe, who finished calmly to score the opener. Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola extended the lead in the 79th minute, skillfully lifting the ball over Edouard Mendy after coming off the bench, before Ibrahim Mbaye managed to pull one back for Senegal.
However, Mbappe capped off the match with a spectacular goal deep into stoppage time, executing a stunning 30-yard strike into the top corner, thus sealing the victory for France.
Ibrahim Mbaye was the sole scorer for Senegal. Mbappe's brace elevated his World Cup goal tally to 14, placing him level with Germany's Gerd Muller and third on the all-time scoring list, trailing only Miroslav Klose (16) and Brazil's Ronaldo (15).
Starting the match tied with the legendary Pele at 12 World Cup goals, Mbappe's remarkable performance propelled him into third place outright. Additionally, his two goals increased his international total to 58, making him France's highest-ever scorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud's 57 goals.
The French superstar has now scored in three consecutive World Cups and continues to be one of the standout players in the ongoing tournament. Notably, he became only the second player in history, after England's Geoff Hurst in 1966, to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final during the thrilling 3-3 draw against Argentina in Qatar four years ago.