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Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid forward, has spoken of his immense pride after overtaking Olivier Giroud to become France’s all-time leading goal scorer. After netting a decisive brace against Senegal in France’s opening 2026 World Cup match, the French captain now has his eyes set on surpassing the tournament’s all-time record currently held by Lionel Messi.

A record-breaking night in New York

On Tuesday, Mbappe etched his name permanently into French football history by surpassing former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud to become the nation’s highest-ever goal scorer. The Real Madrid star achieved this incredible feat by scoring twice in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal at the MetLife Stadium, marking a memorable start to Les Bleus’ World Cup campaign. At just 27 years old, Mbappe’s tally of 58 international goals is a staggering accomplishment. To commemorate the milestone, his France teammates presented him with a special jersey bearing the number 58 on the back.

Mbappe expresses his pride and gratitude

Reflecting on his historic achievement, the French skipper shared his emotions and appreciation with fans on social media. In a heartfelt message, Mbappe said he was deeply honoured to become France’s all-time top scorer, expressing gratitude towards his teammates, coaching staff, and the French Football Federation for their unwavering support since his debut. He also thanked fans for their continued encouragement, adding that his journey was far from over and there was still much more to accomplish.

Closing in on Messi’s World Cup record

With the French national team record now in his possession, Mbappe has turned his focus to another major milestone — the all-time World Cup goal record. The prestigious mark is currently shared by Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Germany’s Miroslav Klose, both on 16 goals. Following his brace against the African champions, Mbappe’s World Cup tally now stands at 14. With his current form and age, many football analysts anticipate that it’s only a matter of time before he overtakes both Messi and Klose to claim yet another historic record.

France’s next challenge

France, under Didier Deschamps, will be back in action next Monday for their second group stage clash at the 2026 World Cup. They will face Iraq in Philadelphia, aiming to secure an early qualification for the knockout rounds. Les Bleus will then wrap up their group-stage campaign with a match against Norway.

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