Mbappe equals France scoring record, eyes more milestones

Kylian Mbappe has etched his name into French football history by scoring his 57th international goal in France's World Cup opener against Senegal, equaling Olivier Giroud's record as the nation's joint top scorer. The Real Madrid forward, aged 27, reached the milestone in just 99 appearances, underscoring his remarkable consistency on the international stage.

A Record in Sight

Mbappe's goal, a clinical finish in the match, drew praise from Giroud himself, who was working as a pundit for BBC One. "Congratulations Kylian," Giroud said. "I'm happy for him. It's a great finish and we are level now, you need to score another one Kylian." Giroud added, "It makes sense, it was expected. He will beat every single record - the number of caps and goals. I think he can easily reach 100 goals and maybe [beat] Miroslav Klose's World Cup record. He's delivered great performances in World Cups and big games."

The goal also moved Mbappe to 13 World Cup goals, just three behind Germany's Miroslav Klose, who holds the all-time record with 16. With at least one more World Cup and European Championships ahead, Mbappe is well positioned to challenge that mark.

Rise to Stardom

Mbappe made his international debut in March 2017 and scored his first goal in his fourth appearance, a 4-0 World Cup qualifier win over the Netherlands. Earlier that day, Paris St-Germain agreed an initial season-long loan deal to sign the then-18-year-old from Monaco, with an option to buy for £165.7 million. PSG later activated that option, making Mbappe the most expensive teenager in football history.

By the time the move was completed, Mbappe was already a national hero. He spearheaded France's 2018 World Cup triumph, becoming the youngest French player to score at a World Cup and the second teenager after Pele to score in a final. He finished as joint second-highest scorer in Russia and was named Young Player of the Tournament.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mbappe established himself as France's talisman. He became only the second player after England's Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, though France lost to Argentina on penalties.

Project Mbappe

Mbappe's journey to the top was meticulously planned by his family, a strategy they called 'Project Mbappe.' Childhood friend Rayan Viyanga recalled in a BBC Sport documentary: "Kylian was just school and football. School, football, home." Born in 1998 in the Paris suburb of Bondy, just five months after France's first World Cup win, Mbappe's path seemed destined.

French football expert Julien Laurens believes Mbappe will ultimately be regarded as France's greatest ever player. "There is still a lot more to come from him but if we are to stop it right now, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini certainly remain the top two French players of all time," Laurens said. "After that it is Mbappe ahead of Thierry Henry, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and others. Even the ones from the old generation like Raymond Kopa. It is not just for his goals, but his leadership now as captain on the field, winning the World Cup in 2018, scoring a hat-trick in the final in 2022. I predict him to be the number one by the end of his career. He has at least one more World Cup after this and the Euros to play in so he will probably become the greatest player we have ever had."