Kylian Mbappe scored twice in France’s World Cup opening against Senegal in New Jersey, becoming the country’s all-time leading goal scorer.
Mbappe pierced Senegal’s resistance in the second half with a low strike before firing home a spectacular long-range attempt deep into stoppage time.
The Real Madrid forward’s second goal brought his total for Les Bleus to 58, one more than former record holder Olivier Giroud.
Bradley Barcola had earlier put France ahead 2-0 before Ibrahim Mbaye equalized, but Mbappe’s second goal of the game ruined Senegal’s chances of a comeback.
Prior to Mbappe’s opener, France had put up a lackluster performance, with Senegal creating the better chances and possibly being unlucky not to break the deadlock in an outstanding first-half display.
Nicolas Jackson came closest for the Lions of Teranga, firing a low shot against the base of the post, which rebounded off goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s foot and went narrowly wide of the upright.
Ismaila Sarr could have given Senegal the lead on the stroke of halftime, but he failed to direct his close-range shot on goal after connecting with Sadio Mane’s cross.
France, on the other hand, came out strong in the second half and were controversially denied a penalty after Mane appeared to catch Mbappe inside the box.
Senegal famously defeated Les Bleus in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup, with the late Papa Bouba Diop scoring the sole goal in one of the competition’s most stunning upsets.
For a moment, the Lions of Teranga appeared to be on their way to another remarkable victory over the two-time champions, whose star-studded front four of Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Michael Olise failed to click in the first half.
France had only three touches inside the Senegal box before the interval, and Mbappe failed to have an effect on the game.
However, Didier Deschamps’ team emerged from the break as a different animal.
Doue went wide seconds after the restart, and Olise and Mbappe were both denied by Mendy when clean through on goal.
However, the former Chelsea goalkeeper was unable to stop Mbappe, 27, from stealing the show.
Jackson had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after Mbappe’s opener, but Barcola’s precise finish gave France a two-goal lead late in the second half.
Mbaye, who became Senegal’s youngest scorer at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, gave his team hope with a powerful effort from a tight angle, but Mbappe’s 25-yard strike sealed France’s victory.
France will play Iraq in their next Group I game on Monday, 22 June (22:00 BST), while Senegal face Norway in New Jersey (01:00 BST on Tuesday, 23 June).
