Kylian Mbappe equals elite record during World Cup clash

Kylian Mbappe’s goal against Senegal has seen him equal Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time record goalscorer.

The Real Madrid superstar put Les Bleus’ 1-0 up in the second half World Cup opener at the MetLife Stadium in New York to notch a 57th goal for his country.

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After a cagey first-half, the game sprung into life with Mbappe slotting home after being played in by Michael Olise on 66 minutes.

It came moments after he was controversially denied a penalty, despite appearing to have been clearly fouled inside the box by West Ham defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Bradley Barcola put Les Bleus 2-0 up with a cute chip as he rounded off a counter-attack.

But it’s Mbappe who steals the headlines as France’s achieves a huge personal milestone on Tuesday.

Having announced himself to the world when he became France’s youngest-ever World Cup scorer in 2018, Mbappe once again chose football’s biggest stage to write his name into the history books.

By netting against Senegal, he joined former teammate Giroud at the top of the national team’s goalscoring charts.

But while Giroud took 137 international games to reach his impressive total, Mbappe has done the same with frightening efficiency.

The 27-year-old has taken just 98 matches to hit the 57-goal mark, while his latest France goal also saw him equal another record.

Lucky 13?

Mbappe’s strike in New York was his 13th at the World Cup finals, moving him level with Just Fontaine as Les Bleus’ all-time top goalscorer in the tournament.

And while he will have his sights set on surpassing both Giroud and Fontaine’s respective records this summer, he might struggle to overtake the latter in one area.

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Fontaine incredibly scored all 13 of his World Cup goals at one tournament – the 1958 edition – a tally which remains unbeaten.

Mbappe has also moved ahead of the great Pele in the tournament’s all-time goalscoring charts, where he now sits level with Lionel Messi.

With the pair stealing the show in the 2022 World Cup final – where Mbappe scored a hat-trick in France’s penalty shootout defeat – both will have one eye on breaking former Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals.

Having fired Les Bleus to glory in 2018, before narrowly missing out in 2022, the superstar forward will now be hoping to inspire his country to a third tournament crown this summer.

Olivier award

Ahead of France’s clash with Senegal, Giroud backed Mbappe to go on and break his record tally for the national team, with the pair having been teammates in their 2018 World Cup triumph.

Appearing as a pundit for the BBC, the ex-Arsenal and Chelsea striker said: “It makes sense. It was expected.

“I’m happy it is him [who will break the record].

“He will beat every single record anyway; caps, goals – he can easily reach 100 goals, and maybe Klose’s one of World Cup goals.

“He has delivered great performances in the World Cups, in big games.”