Kylian Mbappe's name is etched in the annals of French football history as he shattered Olivier Giroud's all-time record at just 27 years young! The Real Madrid sensation conjured up magic in the World Cup opener against Senegal, bagging his 58th goal for Les Bleus in a mere 99 appearances. It was a milestone that has left fans and pundits alike beaming with pride.
This latest achievement is merely another stone added to an already glittering career for Mbappe, who burst onto the international scene in March 2017. His first goal for France arrived in a thrilling 4-0 World Cup qualifier win over the Netherlands – a match that marked just the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Little did we know at the time that this 18-year-old wonderkid would go on to become the most expensive teenager in football history, with Paris Saint-Germain splashing out £165.7 million for his signature.
Mbappe's impact on the international stage has been nothing short of phenomenal. He spearheaded France's triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign, becoming the youngest French player to score in the tournament and only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final. His electric displays earned him the joint second-highest goalscorer in Russia and saw him deservedly crowned young player of the tournament.
Fast-forward four years to the 2022 World Cup, where Mbappe had firmly established himself as France's talisman. He delivered a breathtaking performance in the final against Argentina, becoming only the second player after England's Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final – albeit ultimately losing out on penalties. His impressive tally of 58 international goals now includes 14 strikes in the World Cups, leaving him just two shy of Germany's Miroslav Klose, who holds the record with 16.
Olivier Giroud, the man Mbappe overtook to claim the record, paid tribute to his younger counterpart, stating on BBC One: "I'm happy for him. 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." French football expert Julien Laurens echoed this sentiment, predicting that Mbappe will ultimately become the greatest player in the country's history – citing not only his goals but also his leadership as captain.
Born in Bondy, on the outskirts of Paris, in 1998, just five months after France's first World Cup triumph, Mbappe's trajectory to the top has been meticulously planned. Described by childhood friend Rayan Viyanga in a BBC Sport documentary as focusing solely on "School, football, home," this dedicated approach, dubbed 'Project Mbappe' by his family, has clearly yielded exceptional results on the global stage.