Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday passed Pele on the FIFA World Cup goal-scoring list and moved into first in the record books for France after scoring his 13th and 14th World Cup goals in their 3-1 victory against Senegal in Group I at New Jersey Stadium.
They were his 57th and 58th goals playing internationally, tying and passing Oliver Giroud for the most in the country’s rich history.
“I play to make history with my country and help my team win the World Cup,” Mbappe said in French, adding that he was thinking of his family, friends and loved ones when he scored.
Photo: AFP
Mbappe first scored in the 66th minute after having several quality scoring chances denied by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, including earlier in the second half.
He scored again from long range in the sixth minute of stoppage-time after Bradley Barcola got France’s second and mere seconds following Senegal’s goal to Ibrahim Mbaye.
“It was crazy,” France defender William Saliba said. “We just conceded the first goal for Senegal and just one minute after, we score a banger. I was so happy. Yeah, a crazy goal.”
Photo: AFP
Mbappe’s second goal broke a tie with Pele. He celebrated by mimicking playing a flute, after comedian James Corden suggested that on his Fox show.
After scoring his second of the afternoon to pass countryman Just Fontaine, the 27-year-old playing in his third World Cup is tied with Germany’s Gerd Muller for the fourth-most in tournament history. Mbappe is one behind Brazil’s Ronaldo and two away from the record of 16 held by Miroslav Klose of Germany and Lionel Messi, who had a hat-trick for Argentina hours later to match that mark.
“Of course I think he has everything to beat the World Cup [record],” Saliba said. “I hope he is going to do it in this tournament because for sure he has everything, and I’m sure that he will do it.”
Photo: AP
France coach Didier Deschamps liked what he saw from Mbappe even before putting the ball in the net.
“Before he scored the first two goals today, as a captain and outside of the field he does a lot for the group,” Deschamps said through an interpreter. “He’s got a global aura due to his real talent. He’s a very decisive player at all times.”
In the day’s other game in Group I, Norway star Erling Haaland also got a brace in his tournament debut to propel his side to a 4-1 victory over Iraq at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Photo: AP
The Manchester City striker’s 56th and 57th international goals came in Norway’s first appearance in the tournament since reaching the knockout round at the 1998 World Cup in France — two years before Haaland was born.
Haaland said he would do his best to meet the expectations he created with his performance in the match.
“Of course I will try,” Haaland said. “It’s about continuing and don’t think too much. It’s difficult at this stage, but I’ll focus on [the] next [game] and of course be happy, but also stay calm.”
Norway coach Stale Solbakken said he had a feeling Haaland was ready after watching how loose he was in the team’s last training session before the match.
“You could see that he lived up to the occasion,” Solbakken said. “The occasion wasn’t too big for him.”
Leo Ostigard scored in the 76th minute off a corner-kick from Martin Odegaard. An own-goal by Iraq forward Aymen Hussein just before the final whistle completed Norway’s scoring.
Hussein also scored for his team, an equalizer just nine minutes after Haaland’s first strike.
Haaland put Norway in front for good just before halftime when he sneaked in front of a poor back-pass to Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.
Haaland beat Hassan to the ball, pre-empting his attempted clearance, and then used his shin to put the ball in the back of the net.
“It’s one of those things. It happened,” Iraq coach Graham Arnold said. “It is what is and we have to learn from it.”
Haaland’s first goal, which came in the 29th minute, followed a cross into the box from David Moller Wolfe. Haaland slid and used his right heel to finish off the play.
It ignited waves of cheers from the Norway supporters, who dominated the stands clad in red as they broke out in synchronized Viking row chants.
Additional reporting by AFP
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