East Rutherford, United States – In a landmark opening Group I FIFA World Cup fixture at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, French captain Kylian Mbappe cemented his place in his nation’s football history, striking twice to secure a 3-1 victory over Senegal and overtake Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading international goalscorer. The Real Madrid superstar now boasts an impressive 58 goals from 99 caps for Les Bleus, a milestone that earned glowing praise from head coach Didier Deschamps in the post-match press conference.
Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018, pushed back against ongoing criticism of the 24-year-old forward, framing him as a generational talent that can turn the tide of any match in a single moment. “There are still critics out there who question his impact, but make no mistake: he is an extraordinary player,” Deschamps told reporters. “Not every play went his way on Tuesday, but we all know he can win a game out of nothing with one flash of brilliance. As captain, he contributes so much to this squad both on and off the pitch, despite unfair claims that he is selfish.”
The match got off to a rocky start for the two-time World Cup champions, who looked disjointed and unconvincing in the first half. Deschamps admitted his side wasted multiple promising opportunities and were fortunate to go into the break level, avoiding falling behind against a sharp, well-organized Senegal side. A tactical shift early in the second half turned the tide of the game, when Deschamps moved Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise from the right flank into a central midfield role.
The adjustment immediately unlocked France’s attacking threat, with Olise’s close control and incisive passing linking the midfield to the front line far more effectively. “The second half was a massive improvement after that switch,” Deschamps explained. “Michael tied our entire attack together. The more he gets on the ball, the more dangerous we become, because he consistently finds our strikers in dangerous positions.”
It was Mbappe who broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, slotting home the opening goal to put France ahead. Young winger Bradley Barcola extended Les Bleus’ lead just minutes later, before Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back to keep the African side in the game. Mbappe put the result beyond doubt late in the match with his second, sealing the 3-1 win and writing his name into the French record books.
Deschamps noted that the milestone carries extra weight for Mbappe, who had failed to find the net in France’s pre-tournament warm-up friendlies. “I’m genuinely so happy for him. Breaking the record at a World Cup makes this achievement even more special, it has far greater impact than it would anywhere else,” the coach said.
Deschamps had previously warned his squad against complacency coming into the match against Senegal, a test he always expected to be demanding. With three points on the board in their opening fixture, France now enter their remaining Group I matches against Iraq and Norway in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage. “Getting that first win against a very good Senegal side was huge for us,” Deschamps added. “We had our difficulties, we were wasteful at times, but three points is what matters, and that first win was critical given how competitive our group is. We’re all looking forward to what comes next.”
France will face their next group stage opponent Iraq in Philadelphia next Monday, as they continue their bid for a third World Cup title.