Kylian Mbappe was both hero and critic of himself in France’s 2-0 victory over Ukraine. The Real Madrid forward scored his 51st international goal to equal Thierry Henry, but admitted to a “stupidity” after wasting a golden late chance.
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France controlled the match in Paris, breaking down a stubborn Ukraine defense with patience and composure. In the 82nd minute, Mbappe struck clinically to seal the win. The goal lifted him above Michel Platini and level with Henry in the all-time Les Bleus charts.
With only Olivier Giroud ahead on 57 goals, Mbappe is now within touching distance of becoming France’s outright top scorer.
Despite the milestone, Mbappe reminded fans that even the best can stumble. In stoppage time, Aurelien Tchouameni sent him clean through on goal. Instead of finishing with simplicity, the French captain attempted a cheeky lob over keeper Anatoliy Trubin. The effort fell flat, leaving the crowd stunned.
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Speaking after the game, Mbappe was brutally honest about the miss:
That was mostly just stupidity. A move like that is only beautiful if it works. Next time, I need to score it… or not attempt it at all.
The 25-year-old now sits six goals behind Olivier Giroud’s all-time tally of 57. Few doubt he will surpass the mark, given his age and strike rate. Yet in his post-match chat with TF1, Mbappe stressed that chasing records isn’t his obsession.
The record is getting closer, it’s not something I’m thinking about. Maybe because I believe I can beat it, or maybe because I think there are more important things. But of course, being the top scorer in French history is no small feat.
France’s win keeps them firmly on course for 2026 World Cup qualification. Their next test comes against Iceland on September 9. Mbappe will once again carry the hopes of Les Bleus — and the chance to close in on Giroud’s record.
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