<\/p>\n
France\u2019s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team in the course of the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near Latest York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo\/Frank Franklin II)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
EAST RUTHERFORD, Latest Jersey \u2014 After a flat first half, Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 got France back in tune.<\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9 scored twice to maneuver past Pel\u00e9 with 14 World Cup goals, celebrating by mimicking a flutist as he had promised, and Les Bleus beat Senegal 3-1 Tuesday of their World Cup opener.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe could have scored 4 or five goals, OK, theoretically, but we\u2019re pleased with two goals,\u201d France coach Didier Deschamps said.<\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9 had 14 touches within the scoreless first half, the fewest of any player, then put France ahead within the 66th minute. He burst past Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, turned onto a diagonal pass from Michael Olise and slid the ball past goalkeeper \u00c9douard Mendy from just outside the 6-yard box.<\/p>\n
In a segment with Mbapp\u00e9 taped May 20 and aired Friday by U.S. broadcaster Fox, award-winning actor and tv host James Corden suggested the 27-year-old star striker rejoice his next World Cup goal by imitating a flute player. Mbapp\u00e9 practiced the instrument for a yr or two as a baby on the behest of his parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll do it for you first game,\u201d Mbapp\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9 ran toward a corner, brought each hands to his lips and air-tooted for a couple of seconds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he desires to miss the primary half again and rating two goals within the second half in one other match, that\u2019s OK with me,\u201d Deschamps said.<\/p>\n
Bradley Barcola doubled the lead within the 82nd, two minutes after entering, and Ibrahim Mbaye cut the deficit within the fifth minute of stoppage time. Mbapp\u00e9 scored just 68 seconds afterward a spectacular right-footed shot from 30 yards. The ball dipped perfectly between Mendy\u2019s outstretched left arm and the crossbar.<\/p>\n
\u201cA crazy goal,\u201d French defender William Saliba said.<\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9, who led the 2022 tournament with eight goals, moved one ahead of Lionel Messi and fellow Frenchman Just Fontaine on the World Cup profession scoring list before Messi scored his 14th, fifteenth and sixteenth for Argentina later Tuesday. Mbapp\u00e9 is tied with Germany\u2019s Gerd M\u00fcller, trailing Messi, Germany\u2019s Miroslav Klose (16) and Brazil\u2019s Ronaldo (15).<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure that he’ll do it,\u201d Saliba said of Mbapp\u00e9 setting the record.<\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9 also became France\u2019s profession scoring leader with 58 goals, yet one more than Olivier Giroud.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can every now and then miss a game or two but on one motion he really is capable of tip the scales and produce his team to victory,\u201d Deschamps said. \u201cPeople say he doesn\u2019t defend enough. Well, he\u2019s not here to defend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9 brushed off critics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not about revenge,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I began playing for all of the individuals who criticize me simply to silence them, I\u2019d need to play until I used to be 80.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trying to achieve its third straight World Cup final, France plays Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia, then closes Group I on June 26 against Norway at Foxborough, Massachusetts. Senegal meets Norway on Monday at MetLife Stadium and finishes the primary round against Iraq at Toronto.<\/p>\n
With fans in Senegal denied visas by the U.S. government, supporters of the Lions of Teranga appeared limited to a couple of sections in MetLife\u2019s southwest corner on a sunny 77-degree Fahrenheit (25-degree Celsius) afternoon.<\/p>\n
While a lot of the stadium was crammed with a just-under sellout crowed of 80,545, there have been empty seats in a mezzanine club level, which has air-conditioned suites behind the outdoor chairs.<\/p>\n
Two hours before kickoff, tickets dropped to as little as $69 on FIFA\u2019s resale site. FIFA sold tickets at $220-$620 in December.<\/p>\n
France was outshot 5-1 in the primary half. Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson\u2019s Twenty fifth-minute shot hit a post, rebounded off the heel of goalkeeper Mike Maignan and bounced into touch.<\/p>\n
Les Bleus then outshot their opponents 10-1 within the second half, when Olise shifted centrally from the proper flank.<\/p>\n