PARIS (BN24) — Kylian Mbappé has matched Thierry Henry’s record as France’s joint second-highest goalscorer, following his goal in the 82nd minute of Les Bleus’ 2-0 victory over Ukraine in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Friday.
The 26-year-old forward’s strike brought his total to 51 goals for the national team, equaling the tally set by Arsenal legend Henry. Mbappé now sits just behind Olivier Giroud, who remains France’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals.
Mbappé’s goal capped off a solid team performance that saw France strengthen their position at the top of Group C. Michael Olise had opened the scoring in the 10th minute, putting France in control early on. Ukraine, meanwhile, struggled to break down the French defense and failed to create significant chances throughout the match.
Since making his international debut in 2017, Mbappé has firmly established himself as one of the stars of world football. He announced himself on the global stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring four goals—including one in the final against Croatia—as France secured their second World Cup title.
Mbappé’s rise continued in Qatar 2022, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a remarkable hat-trick in the final against Argentina. His performance in that tournament solidified his status as one of the game’s brightest stars. With Henry’s record now equaled, Mbappé will have the opportunity to move into outright second place on France’s all-time scoring chart when Didier Deschamps’ side faces Georgia in their next qualifier on Tuesday
