Kylian Mbappé continues to solidify his place among France's all-time greats, scoring in the nation's 2-0 victory against Ukraine in World Cup qualifying. This goal marks his 51st for Les Bleus, tying him with Thierry Henry as the second-highest goalscorer in the history of the French national team. Only Olivier Giroud, with 57 goals, stands ahead of him.

The Real Madrid forward secured the victory against Ukraine in the 82nd minute, displaying his signature speed and skill to elude defender Illia Zabarnyi and fire past goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Michael Olise had earlier opened the scoring in the 10th minute, assisted by Bradley Barcola, giving France an early lead in the Group D qualifier.

The match, held at Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, was France's first World Cup qualifier since their defeat against Argentina in the 2022 final. France's coach, Didier Deschamps, acknowledged his team's attacking quality and the importance of starting the campaign with a win. Mbappé echoed this sentiment, stating that while there was room for improvement, it was a "good, solid start".

Mbappé's goal-scoring record for France is remarkable, particularly when compared to other top scorers. He reached his 51st goal in 91 appearances, whereas Thierry Henry took 123 games to reach the same milestone. At 26 years old, Mbappé is demonstrating a blend of talent, speed, and goal-scoring ability. His performance is not only boosting expectations for the 2026 World Cup but also fueling discussions about his potential to break more records.

France's victory places them alongside Iceland at the top of Group D. The team is set to host Iceland in Paris on Tuesday, while Ukraine will travel to Azerbaijan. Other teams also had their share of victories, with Italy securing a 5-0 win over Estonia, Switzerland defeating Kosovo 4-0, and Greece triumphing over Belarus 5-1.

Mbappé's career has been on a rapid rise since his debut at Monaco. He now plays for Real Madrid, where he scored 44 goals in his first season. His statistics showcase his offensive capabilities, including his finishing, dribbling, and key passes. He also has a penchant for scoring from inside the penalty area with his right foot.

As Mbappé continues his international career, he is expected to surpass Olivier Giroud and become France's all-time top goalscorer. His current goals-per-game ratio is only surpassed by Just Fontaine, who scored 30 goals in 21 appearances for France.