Kylian Mbappé delivered another World Cup masterclass on Tuesday, scoring twice as France kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Senegal in a high-profile Group I clash at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.
The Real Madrid superstar once again proved why he remains one of football’s biggest stars, taking his World Cup tally to 14 goals and moving closer to the all-time tournament scoring record as France secured all three points in front of a crowd of 80,545 spectators.
Despite entering the tournament as one of the favourites, Didier Deschamps’ side struggled to impose themselves during a difficult first half against a disciplined Senegal team led by veteran forward Sadio Mané. Senegal created the better opportunities before the break, with Nicolas Jackson striking the post in the 25th minute after a swift counterattack. Ismaila Sarr also squandered a golden chance in stoppage time when he fired over the crossbar from close range.
France emerged transformed after halftime following a tactical reshuffle by Deschamps, who moved Michael Olise into a more central role. The change immediately paid dividends as the Bayern Munich midfielder began pulling the strings in attack.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 66th minute when Olise threaded a superb pass into the path of Mbappé, who timed his run perfectly before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to give France a 1-0 lead.
Olise’s influence continued to grow as France took control of the contest. Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, introduced from the bench, doubled the advantage late in the game after being released by Adrien Rabiot, finishing confidently to put Les Bleus firmly in command.
Senegal refused to surrender and found a lifeline deep into stoppage time when PSG youngster Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back, sparking hopes of a dramatic finish. However, Mbappé quickly extinguished any comeback ambitions with a stunning long-range strike in the 96th minute, sealing a 3-1 victory and capping another memorable World Cup performance.
The French captain’s brace carried extra significance as it elevated him to 58 international goals, making him France’s all-time leading scorer. His 14 World Cup goals also moved him past football legends Pelé, Lionel Messi and Just Fontaine in the tournament scoring charts. Only Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazário, with 15 goals, and Germany’s all-time record holder Miroslav Klose, with 16, now stand ahead of him.
Reflecting on his latest World Cup heroics, Mbappé said: “I’ve not been able to take it all in.” The forward, who scored in France’s 2018 World Cup-winning final and netted a remarkable hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina, continues to build an extraordinary legacy on football’s biggest stage.
France now sit in a strong position to progress from Group I and will turn their attention to upcoming fixtures against Iraq and Norway. For head coach Didier Deschamps, who is expected to step down after the tournament following 14 years in charge, the victory offers a positive start to what could be his final World Cup campaign.
Senegal, meanwhile, will take encouragement from a spirited performance that troubled the two-time world champions for long periods. However, the Lions of Teranga were ultimately punished for failing to convert their first-half chances as Mbappé once again demonstrated his ability to decide matches at the highest level.
