The French National Team made its debut with authority in the 2026 World Cup by beating Senegal and made it clear from the first match why it is among the favorites to win the title. The team led by Didier Deschamps showed solidity, hierarchy and effectiveness to start its participation in the competition on the right foot.
The main figure of the meeting was Kylian Mbappé. The French forward scored a double and confirmed his prominence in the World Cups. He opened the scoring at minute 66 and, when the game was about to end, he appeared again at 90+6 with a powerful left foot to seal the match.
Mbappé, after the top scorers
With these two goals, the Real Madrid forward reached 14 goals in World Cups, an outstanding figure for a player who is only playing in his third World Cup, at the age of 27.
Its record is as follows:
- Russia 2018: 4 goals
- Qatar 2022: 8 goals
- World Cup 2026: 2 goals
Total: 14 goals
With this mark, Mbappé surpassed Just Fontaine (13), equaled Gerd Müller (14) and was among the top scorers in the history of the World Cup.
Top scorers in World Cup history
- Miroslav Klose – 16
- Ronaldo Nazário – 15
- Kylian Mbappé – 14
- Gerd Müller – 14
- Lionel Messi – 13
- Just Fontaine – 13
- Pelé – 12
Two goals away from the record
Mbappé was two goals away from equaling the all-time record. France will face Iraq on the next matchday, an opportunity for the striker to continue increasing his scoring record in the competition.
France confirms its aspirations
Beyond Mbappé’s individual performance, France left good feelings as a team, with tactical order, offensive depth and a squad with talent in all its lines. With Deschamps on the bench and Mbappé as the main reference, the French team aspires to fight for the world title.
VICTOIREEEEEE!! 💙🔥
Nos Bleus s’imposent pour leur entrée dans la Coupe du Monde 🙌
🇫🇷3-1🇸🇳 #PHRASEN | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/AkdgvaQ3Ku
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 16, 2026