France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League third place play-off football match between Germany and France in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany on June 8, 2025. (Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP)
Kylian Mbappé has drawn level with Thierry Henry as France’s joint second-highest goalscorer after finding the net in Les Bleus’ 2-0 victory over Ukraine in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday.
The 26-year-old forward scored in the 82nd minute, taking his tally to 51 goals for the national team, the same as Arsenal legend Henry. The record puts Mbappé behind only Olivier Giroud, who remains France’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals.
France tightened their grip at the top of Group C with the win, while Ukraine struggled to create clear chances. The other goal came from Michael Olise, who scored earlier in the 10th minute to open the scoring.
Mbappé, who made his international debut in 2017, has steadily become the face of French 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 lifted their second world title.
Four years later, at Qatar 2022, the Paris-born striker underlined his status as one of the game’s biggest stars by finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, including a dramatic hat-trick in the final against Argentina.
With Henry’s mark now equalled, Mbappé will have the opportunity to move into outright second place on France’s all-time scoring chart when Didier Deschamps’ men face Georgia in their next qualifier on Tuesday.
