Kylian Mbappe moved closer to the all-time World Cup scoring record after scoring twice to lead France to a 3-1 victory over Senegal in their Group I opener at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.
France opened its campaign with a convincing win at New York New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday night local time, with Mbappe striking in the 66th and 90th+2 minutes and Bradley Barcola adding a third in the 82nd minute. Senegal briefly threatened a comeback through Ibrahim Mbaye in the 90th+5 minute, but France held firm to secure three points.
The result not only strengthened France’s position in Group I but also pushed Mbappe further into World Cup history. The Real Madrid forward now has 14 World Cup goals across three tournaments, a tally that places him among the competition’s most prolific scorers.
Mbappe’s latest brace saw him surpass several legendary names, including Gabriel Batistuta of Argentina, Germany’s Juergen Klinsmann and Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis. His total also equals Germany great Gerd Muller’s World Cup tally of 14 goals.
Only a handful of players now stand ahead of him. Brazil’s Ronaldo has 15 World Cup goals across the 1998, 2002 and 2006 tournaments, while Germany’s Miroslav Klose leads the all-time list with 16 goals scored across four editions from 2002 to 2014.
At 14 goals, Mbappe sits just one behind Ronaldo and two behind Klose, putting him within striking distance of the record during the 2026 tournament.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who has 13 World Cup goals, is also within reach of Mbappe’s current mark. Messi is set to feature in Group J action against Algeria on Wednesday, potentially reshaping the scoring race at the top of the all-time list.
Mbappe, who helped France win the 2018 World Cup, remains central to coach Didier Deschamps’ plans as Les Bleus target another deep run in the tournament. With at least two more group-stage matches remaining — against Iraq on June 23 and Norway on June 27 — the French forward is expected to have multiple opportunities to close the gap further.
The match against Norway carries additional intrigue, as it could pit Mbappe against Erling Haaland in one of the tournament’s most anticipated individual duels. Haaland is making his World Cup debut in 2026, adding another layer of star power to Group I.
France’s depth in attack continues to support Mbappe’s pursuit, with Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise also contributing in the opening win. The team’s balance has made them early contenders for the title, while Mbappe’s scoring form reinforces his status as one of the defining figures of his generation.
For now, the numbers continue to climb — and so does the pressure on the World Cup record books.
