France secured a 2-0 victory over Ukraine in their opening World Cup qualifier, with Kylian Mbappe reaching a milestone by equaling Thierry Henry as France’s second-highest goalscorer. Michael Olise scored the opening goal, while Mbappe sealed the win with a brilliant individual effort. The win puts France in a strong position in Group D, while Ukraine will need to improve in their upcoming matches.
Kylian Mbappe etched his name further into French football folklore, equaling Thierry Henry as France's second-highest goalscorer, as Les Bleus commenced their 2026 World Cup qualifying journey with a solid 2-0 victory over Ukraine. The match, held at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, saw France captain Mbappe secure his 51st international goal, bringing him within striking distance of Olivier Giroud's all-time record of 57 goals. Michael Olise also found the net, contributing to a comfortable win for the World Cup runners-up.
Didier Deschamps’ side asserted their dominance early, breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute. Bradley Barcola showcased his vision, picking out Olise in the heart of the penalty area, who then calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner, leaving the Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin with no chance.
France continued to press, with Desire Doue testing Trubin's reflexes. Mbappe, displaying his electrifying pace and skill, almost added a second following a delightful one-two with Manu Kone, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. Aurelien Tchouameni also came close, his shot drifting narrowly wide of the post.
Ukraine struggled to gain a foothold in the game, managing just a single shot in the first half. The second half saw a slight improvement, but France remained firmly in control. Olise nearly doubled his tally and France's lead nine minutes after the restart, his volley grazing the upright.
Ukraine then mounted a brief spell of pressure. Ibrahima Konate made a crucial block on the line to deny Artem Dovbyk, while Illia Zabarnyi's attempted clearance of Mykola Matviienko’s cross-shot deflected against the post, almost resulting in an own goal. However, their failure to capitalize on these moments proved costly.
In the 82nd minute, Mbappe sealed the victory with a moment of individual brilliance. He received the ball on the left flank, effortlessly dribbled past Zabarnyi with a mesmerizing display of footwork, and then coolly slotted his finish past Trubin, sending the French fans into raptures. The goal not only secured the win but also cemented Mbappe’s status as one of the game's brightest stars.
France's victory places them alongside Iceland at the top of Group D, both teams having secured three points. Ukraine and Azerbaijan are yet to register any points in the qualifying campaign.
51 – Kylian Mbappé has scored his 51st goal for France, equalling Thierry Henry as the second highest scorer ever of the team (57 for Olivier Giroud). Jefe. pic.twitter.com/OERcHgCYGR
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 5, 2025
Data Debrief: Mbappe races to 51
Mbappe's influence extended beyond his goal, as he led all players in touches inside the penalty area (six) and shared the lead for most shots (four). His expected goals (0.61 xG) also surpassed that of any other player on the pitch, highlighting his constant threat to the Ukrainian defense.
Reaching 51 senior international goals in just 91 appearances, Mbappe has matched Henry’s total in 32 fewer caps than the Arsenal legend won (91 compared to 123), showcasing his remarkable efficiency and goal-scoring prowess on the international stage. The speed at which he is approaching Giroud's record suggests that he could soon become France's all-time leading scorer.
In addition to the established stars, Deschamps also handed maiden international caps to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, signaling a continued focus on integrating young talent into the national team setup. Akliouche’s debut marked him as the 54th player to make his France debut while playing for Monaco, a testament to the club's rich history of producing international players, at least 12 more than any other club (Lyon have had 44 Blues debutants).