Kylian Mbappe continues to rewrite the record books for French football, and Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes was no exception. In a fiercely contested 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, France edged past Iceland 2-1, but the headlines belonged to Mbappe, who notched his 52nd international goal to leapfrog the legendary Thierry Henry and become France's second-highest all-time scorer. The Real Madrid striker is now just five goals shy of Olivier Giroud’s all-time record—a tantalizing target for the 26-year-old superstar.
The match itself was a rollercoaster, offering drama from the opening whistle. Iceland, never ones to bow to reputations, stunned the home crowd in the 21st minute. Andri Gudjohnsen, ever the opportunist, pounced on a rare mistake from Michael Olise to fire Iceland into the lead. Suddenly, France found themselves staring at the prospect of a humiliating home defeat. The tension in the stadium was palpable—could Les Bleus find a way back?
It took until just before halftime for the French to draw level. Marcus Thuram, always lively on the left, darted into the box and was brought down by Mikael Anderson. The referee didn’t hesitate—penalty France! Up stepped Mbappe, cool as you like, burying his spot-kick with clinical precision. That goal not only restored parity but also etched Mbappe’s name above Henry in the record books. “To overtake him is really great,” Mbappe said post-match, his trademark humility on display. “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.”
As the second half unfolded, France pressed for a winner, and their persistence paid off in the 62nd minute. Mbappe, brimming with confidence, turned provider this time, slipping a clever pass to Bradley Barcola. The young forward made no mistake, slotting home to complete the turnaround and send the Paris crowd into raptures. It was a moment of redemption for the team after their earlier wobble, and Barcola’s goal underscored the depth of attacking talent at Didier Deschamps’ disposal.
But Iceland weren’t finished yet. As the clock ticked down, Aurelien Tchouameni was shown a red card, reducing France to ten men and setting up a frenetic finale. Gudjohnsen thought he’d bagged an equalizer late on, but the goal was ruled out—much to the relief of the French bench and fans alike. France held firm, surviving a late onslaught to secure all three points and maintain their perfect start to World Cup qualifying.
This victory sees France sitting atop Group D with maximum points from their opening two matches, having previously dispatched Ukraine. The sense of momentum is building, and Mbappe’s leadership on and off the pitch is proving invaluable. His performance against Iceland was more than just about goals—he recorded an expected goals (xG) total of 1.2, registered three shots on target, and made four key passes. Those numbers speak to a player who is as much a creator as a finisher, a fact not lost on his teammates or manager.
Reflecting on the team’s progress, Mbappe was quick to emphasize the importance of each result. “Every victory is a step forward,” he remarked. “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.” Yet, ever the perfectionist, Mbappe was candid about the need for improvement: “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. These are always good games to analyse. 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 ascent has been nothing short of remarkable. Surpassing Thierry Henry—a World Cup winner and one of the most revered forwards in French history—is no small feat. What’s more, Mbappe achieved this milestone in just 33 fewer appearances than Henry, underscoring his extraordinary efficiency and consistency in front of goal. At just 26 years old, the Real Madrid star is already being spoken of in the same breath as France’s greatest ever, and the prospect of him overtaking Giroud’s record seems less a question of if, but when.
Olivier Giroud, currently on 57 goals, remains the final hurdle. The Milan striker’s record has stood as a testament to longevity and adaptability, but Mbappe’s trajectory suggests it may not stand for much longer. Given his age and form, many observers expect Mbappe to not only surpass Giroud but to set a new benchmark that could last for generations. “There’s still work to be done,” Mbappe repeated, his focus unwavering.
Of course, football is a team game, and France’s collective ambitions stretch far beyond individual accolades. With a squad brimming with talent—from veterans like Griezmann and Giroud to rising stars like Barcola and Tchouameni—Les Bleus are determined to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup and mount another challenge for the sport’s ultimate prize. The journey through qualification is never straightforward, as Iceland’s spirited display reminded everyone, but France’s ability to dig deep and find solutions bodes well for the road ahead.
For now, the focus shifts to the next round of qualifiers, where France will look to build on their strong start and continue their march toward North America. Mbappe, meanwhile, will be aiming to add to his tally and close the gap on Giroud. The French captain’s blend of ambition and humility has endeared him to fans and teammates alike, and his pursuit of history is providing an extra spark to an already talented squad.
As the final whistle blew at the Parc des Princes, there was a sense of relief and quiet satisfaction among the French contingent. The job isn’t done, but with Mbappe leading the way, the future looks brighter than ever for Les Bleus. The chase for records continues, and so does France’s quest for World Cup glory.
