Former France international Olivier Giroud has responded following the breaking of his goal record for the national team by Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday.
Mbappe has now become the all-time leading scorer for France, surpassing Giroud’s previous record of 57 goals.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker, who was on BBC One when his record was broken, congratulated his former national teammate for the achievement.
The Real Madrid forward netted two goals for France in their 3-1 victory over Senegal during their opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Giroud said on BBC One, “Congratulations Kylian. I am pleased for him. It is fitting, and it was anticipated. He will surpass every record, both in terms of caps and goals. I believe he can easily achieve 100 goals and potentially break Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record. He has consistently delivered outstanding performances in World Cups and significant matches.”
The Real Madrid star has already outscored Just Fontaine, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, and Thierry Henry in terms of goals for the national team.
After the match, Mbappe said that he would need to play until he is 80 years old if he were to focus on his critics, dismissing any notions that he was motivated by a desire for revenge.
Mbappe emphasized that France cannot afford to take anything for granted in the FIFA World Cup, asserting that every opponent will present a formidable challenge.
He stated, “You can never feel at ease in the World Cup. As demonstrated in previous matches, winning the opening game is quite challenging. Every team understands the unique significance of the World Cup. Everyone aspires to win for their nation and deliver an impressive performance.”
When questioned about whether he aimed to prove a point to his critics, Mbappe laughed it off, indicating that he would need to play for another 50 years to alter their opinions. He added that it is crucial for him to make history for France.
He added, “There is no concept of revenge. If I were to play solely to silence my critics, I would have to continue until I am 80. I play to create history for my country. However, the primary objective is to assist France in winning the World Cup. This is merely the first match of the group stage. We must consistently maintain our composure regarding our objectives.”
