During the France-Senegal match on Tuesday in East Rutherford, Kylian Mbappé initially struggled. His performance was lackluster, as he failed to connect with the ball and seemed out of sync. However, the game took a sharp turn in the later stages, revealing his true prowess.
At the 64th minute, Michael Olise advanced with the ball for France, executing a precise pass to Mbappé as he made a run towards the goal. Although Mbappé narrowly missed the opportunity, it was a sign of the growing tension and his increasing frustration. France had managed only one off-target shot in the first half.
Soon after, Olise capitalized on another chance, spotting Mbappé moving towards the right side of the box. Olise delivered a perfectly curved pass, which Mbappé skillfully converted into a goal with one swift motion. This action revived France’s chances, putting them ahead 1-0.
Mbappé later scored again, sealing a 3-1 victory for France. This win marked his 58th international goal, surpassing Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer. Additionally, Mbappé now has 14 World Cup goals, placing him third in the all-time ranking, trailing only Brazil’s Ronaldo (15) and Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16).
“People will still criticize him,” remarked French coach Didier Deschamps. “He’s an iconic player. He can, from time to time, miss a game or two. But on one action, he can tip the scales for his team.”
Entering the tournament, France held high hopes, ranked second globally, trailing only Argentina. Despite this, France’s early gameplay against Senegal appeared less convincing. Senegal dictated the pace with physical play, while officials allowed both teams to play aggressively. Mbappé had minimal impact in the first half, recording only 14 touches.
Coach Deschamps did not see mental barriers affecting Mbappé, stating, “He knows what a World Cup is about. He doesn’t doubt his abilities.”
In the second half, France upped their intensity, outshooting Senegal 10-1. Olise notably played a key role, delivering multiple passes that created scoring chances for Mbappé. In the 57th minute, a pass from Olise led to a promising shot, but Senegal’s goalkeeper Édouard Mendy made a crucial save.
Later, in stoppage time, as Senegal scored, Mbappé responded with another goal. From approximately 30 yards out, he launched a shot into the net’s top corner, where Mendy couldn’t reach. This solidified the win and sparked celebrations among his teammates.
“I hope he will continue like this for the tournament,” expressed France’s Adrien Rabiot.
Mbappé’s continued excellence may lead him to become the World Cup’s top goalscorer shortly, needing two goals to tie Klose and three to surpass him. Coach Deschamps noted, “If he wants to miss the first half again and score two goals in the second half, that’s OK with me.”
After the game, Mbappé briefly addressed the press in French before departing, saying, “Merci beaucoup. Au revoir.” There will be more opportunities for media interaction and goal analysis as the tournament progresses, with hopes of France returning for the final.