Mbappé Becomes France's All-Time Top World Cup Goalscorer, Surpassing Giroud

Kylian Mbappé made history during France's World Cup opener against Senegal on June 16, 2026, becoming his nation's all-time leading goalscorer. The 27-year-old Real Madrid forward scored twice in the match, with his second goal—a stunning long-range strike—taking him past Olivier Giroud's previous record of 57 goals. Mbappé achieved the milestone in just 99 appearances for France, 38 fewer games than Giroud required to reach the same total.

Mbappé's performance proved decisive as France secured victory despite Senegal scoring to make it 2-1. After a subdued first half, the star attacker came alive in the second period, first converting a sublime through pass from Michael Olise before delivering the memorable long-range finish that clinched both the win and the historic record. France entered the tournament as favorites to win the competition, with their squad valued at €1.52 billion—the highest at the World Cup. Mbappé himself carries a market value of €180 million, making him the third most valuable player in the tournament behind Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Manchester City's Erling Haaland.

Beyond the national team record, Mbappé's achievement places him in elite company on the World Cup stage. With 58 international goals, he has now surpassed Pelé's tally of 12 World Cup goals and stands just two goals behind Miroslav Klose's all-time record of 16 World Cup goals. The French striker's remarkable trajectory suggests further records may fall during the tournament, with manager Didier Deschamps likely to rely heavily on his talisman as France pursues the prestigious trophy.