The French supporters packed into the Paris fan zone did not care about the performance. They only cared about the result, and the two goals from thei...
The French supporters packed into the Paris fan zone did not care about the performance. They only cared about the result, and the two goals from their new king. For most of the first half at the 2026 World Cup, France looked sluggish, disjointed, and frankly uninspired. Senegal had set up in a disciplined low block, and for a worrying period, it seemed the reigning champions might bottle the opening game entirely. But football, as they say, is a game of moments, and France have a man who manufactures them in bulk.Kylian Mbappe dragged his side through the mud here. His first goal was pure transitional football, a burst of pace that left the Senegalese defence grasping at air. The finish was clinical, low and hard across the keeper. The second was a poacher's effort, a tap in from a rebound that spoke to his relentless hunger inside the box. Those two strikes were enough to see off a brave Senegal side, who had equalised through a set piece and even threatened to snatch a point during a nervy second half. The 3. 1 scoreline flatters France, make no mistake.Yet amidst the tactical concerns and the sluggishness of a team yet to hit top gear, one monumental achievement shone through. Mbappe is now the all time leading goalscorer for the French national team. Let that sink in. At his age, to have surpassed the legends, the Platini, the Henry, the Thuram. It is not just a record; it is a declaration of intent. For a player who has already won the thing, these individual milestones are what will cement his place in the pantheon. The crowd chanted his name, and for a moment, the talk of a poor performance was drowned out by sheer, unadulterated joy.Does this performance worry Didier Deschamps You bet your bottom dollar it does. France cannot rely on individual brilliance to bail them out against the top sides. There was a distinct lack of tactical flexibility in the first hour, and the midfield struggled to control the tempo. But this is the World Cup. It is about winning ugly, about finding a way. And with Mbappe in this kind of form, France have a cheat code that no other nation possesses. The job is done, the three points are in the bag, and the history maker has his record. Now the real test begins.
