Record-Breaking Mbappe Fires France Past Se…

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

France opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal at the MetLife Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Fixture: France v Senegal
Score: 3-1
Goalscorers: Mbappe (66′), Barcola (82′)/ Mbaye (90+5′)

Les Blues coach went for a deadly attacking quartet of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Michael Olise, who were stand out performers for their clubs this past campaign. As for Senegal, Captain Sadio Mane was joined in the attack by Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson.

All eyes were France’s star-studded attack but it was the African giants who looked the liveliest early on, as they showed no desire to just sit back and defend, with Jackson and Sarr troubling the French defence with their pace.

Didier Deschamps’ charges found it difficult to carve out any clear-cut chances in the first half as their big-name attackers were unable to connect in the opposition half compared to Senegal, where Jackson looked like the liveliest player on the pitch after he struck the upright at the midway point.

That proved to be the only big opening in the first half as France’s star-studded attack were lackluster in the final third, with Mbappe cutting a frustrated figure in the number nine role without any services from his teammates.

Les Blues, however, upped the tempo in the second half as Olise and Mbappe became more involved in their attacking play, which also resulted in their first chances at goal, however both attackers were denied by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

With Senegal not providing any pressure of their own, it was just a matter of time before France got the opening goal after 66 minutes when Olise turned provider to pick out Mbappe, who sent a first-time finish beyond Mendy. There was also a bit of history for Mbappe, who has become France’s joint all-time scorer for the national side with his 57th goal in 99 matches, moving level with former Arsenal star Olivier Giroud.

Senegal, meanwhile, were made to the rue their missed chances in the second half as they were no match for the French, who eventually went on to double their lead in the final eight minutes courtesy of substitute Bradley Barcola’s neat finish.

Subsitute Ibrahim Mbaye did pull one back for Senegal on 95 minutes in fine style from a tight angle, but the day belonged to Mbappe who completed his brace with a superb strike from distance to become France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals.

Key Performers:

After a disappointing first half, both Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappe stepped up superbly in the second period as they linked up to good effect for the first goal, while the latter completed his brace late on.

Next Fixtures:

France: Iraq, Norway

Senegal: Norway, Iraq

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