Mbappé Achieves Historic Milestone for Les Bleus
Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid forward, has officially become France's record goalscorer, netting his 58th goal for the national team at just 27 years old. This achievement came during France's World Cup opener against Senegal, moving him past previous record holder Olivier Giroud.
Giroud, who was working as a pundit for the game, congratulated Mbappé on BBC One. "Congratulations Kylian," Giroud stated. "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."
Mbappé reached this milestone in only 99 appearances for France. His goals in the recent match also brought his World Cup tally to 14, placing him just two goals behind Germany's Miroslav Klose, who holds the record with 16.
Giroud further praised Mbappé's ambition and leadership, noting, "For me it's just ambition and confidence. He knows where he wants to go, he is a leader and you could see from a young age he was very at ease. He was mature for his age. He is a good team-mate, he is an incredible talent and I think he is a proper leader on and off the pitch."
Expert Praises Mbappé's Potential as France's Greatest
French football expert Julien Laurens believes Mbappé is on track to become the greatest player in the country's history. While acknowledging Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini currently hold the top two spots, Laurens places Mbappé ahead of Thierry Henry, Antoine Griezmann, and Olivier Giroud.
"There is still a lot more to come from him but if we are to stop it right now, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini certainly remain the top two French players of all time," Laurens commented. "After that it is Mbappe ahead of Thierry Henry, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and others. Even the ones from the old generation like Raymond Kopa."
Laurens emphasized that Mbappé's impact extends beyond goalscoring, highlighting his leadership as captain, winning the World Cup in 2018, and scoring a hat-trick in the 2022 final. "I predict him to be the number one by the end of his career. He has at least one more World Cup after this and the Euros to play in so he will probably become the greatest player we have ever had."
A Career Forged by 'Project Mbappé'
Mbappé's journey to global stardom, often referred to as 'Project Mbappé,' began in the Parisian suburb of Bondy, where he was born in 1998. His family, including his father Wilfried, a football coach, and his mother Fayza Lamari, a former professional handball player, instilled a strong focus on his football development from a young age.
Childhood friend Rayan Viyanga recalled, "Kylian was just school and football. School, football, home." Mbappé's early ambition was evident, with Viyanga adding, "He was advanced for his age group and wanted to play with the best. That was a strict rule of his, to play with the best." Laurens even mentioned that Mbappé learned the French national anthem at age three in anticipation of playing for his country.
After a stint at the national academy at Clairefontaine, where he initially faced challenges but later thrived after a growth spurt, Mbappé joined Monaco at 14. He quickly broke records, becoming the youngest player and scorer in the club's history, surpassing marks previously held by Thierry Henry.
In 2017, Mbappé became the world's most expensive teenager when he joined Paris St-Germain, having previously caught the attention of clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid. He led France to World Cup glory in 2018, becoming the youngest French player to score in the tournament and only the second teenager after Pelé to score in a World Cup final. He continued his stellar World Cup performances in 2022, scoring a hat-trick in the final, despite France's loss to Argentina.
While Mbappé's early career was marked by immense talent and an undeniable drive, former PSG performance director Martin Buccheit noted the importance of managing his ego. "Ego is a necessary drive for success," Buccheit told BBC Sport. "But it's more about having a hand on the dial to control it. Kylian didn't always have the hand on the on the dial. But for sure the family, the mum and the parents were really behind him. And I could feel that maybe the parents had the volume in their hands."
Now captain of France since 2023, Mbappé still aims for a Champions League winner's medal and the Ballon d'Or, suggesting that 'Project Mbappé' is far from complete. Laurens predicts, "In terms of the trophy cabinet, his would be better and bigger than Zidane and Platini but everything else such as the goalscoring record will too."
Source: Project Mbappe - the road to becoming France's record scorer