Kylian Mbappe surpassed Thierry Henry to become France’s second-highest goalscorer in their 2-1 win against Iceland. Mbappe is now focused on overtaking Olivier Giroud’s all-time record. The victory keeps France top of their World Cup qualifying group.
Kylian Mbappe has set his sights on becoming France's all-time leading goalscorer, aiming to surpass Olivier Giroud after moving past Thierry Henry in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iceland. The match, held at the Parc des Princes, initially appeared to be heading towards an upset, but Mbappe's heroics ensured France maintained their perfect start in World Cup qualifying.
The game began with a shock as Iceland's Andri Gudjohnsen capitalized on a mistake by Michael Olise to put the visitors ahead. The French team, playing in front of their home crowd, found themselves under immense pressure. Iceland's organized defense and quick counter-attacks frustrated the French attack, leaving fans stunned.
However, just before halftime, Marcus Thuram drew a foul from Mikael Anderson inside the penalty area. Mbappe stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The goal not only leveled the score but also marked Mbappe's 52nd international goal, surpassing Thierry Henry in the process. The stadium erupted in celebration as Mbappe acknowledged the cheers of the fans.
France continued to press in the second half, and their efforts paid off when Bradley Barcola completed the comeback, scoring what turned out to be the winning goal. However, the drama was far from over. Aurelien Tchouameni's late red card put France under renewed pressure. Gudjohnsen thought he had scored a late equalizer, but the goal was disallowed, much to the relief of the French team and their supporters.
No player has scored more #WCQ goals than Cristiano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/SvhiVE9scy
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) September 9, 2025
After the match, Mbappe expressed his delight at surpassing Henry but immediately turned his attention to Giroud's record. "To overtake him is really great," Mbappe said. "But there's still one person to overtake, I think, so I'm not going to celebrate too much. There's still work to be done." His ambition and focus were evident as he spoke about the challenges ahead.
The victory ensures France remains top of Group D in World Cup qualifying, having secured maximum points from their first two games, including a win against Ukraine. Mbappe emphasized the importance of each victory in the qualification process. "Every victory is a step forward," he stated. "We'll have to take many steps to qualify. But each victory brings us a little closer to the World Cup. We're happy to have beaten our direct competitors."
Mbappe’s individual performance was outstanding, accumulating an expected goals (xG) total of 1.2, registering three shots on target, and making four key passes. His ability to create opportunities and score goals was crucial to France's success. However, he also acknowledged that there were areas where the team could improve. "There are quite a few lessons to be learned. The lessons aren't always positive. But it allows us to work, to see what we're missing, where we can improve," Mbappe noted.
He added, "These are always good games to analyze. We're still there, we managed to collect a lot of points. There are things we did well, and there are quite a few things to learn from this gathering." Mbappe’s assessment of the game highlighted his commitment to continuous improvement and his leadership qualities within the team.
France's coach will undoubtedly be analyzing the game closely, looking at both the positives and negatives. The team's resilience in coming back from a goal down will be encouraging, but the late red card and the disallowed goal will serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done. The focus will now shift to the upcoming matches, where France will look to continue their winning run and secure their place in the World Cup.
The victory against Iceland was not just about the three points; it was also about Mbappe's continued rise as one of the world's best players. His ability to perform under pressure and his determination to break records make him a formidable opponent for any team. As he closes in on Giroud's record, the excitement among French fans is palpable. They believe that Mbappe has the potential to lead France to even greater heights in the years to come. The journey to the World Cup is a long and challenging one, but with Mbappe leading the charge, France has every reason to be confident.