France striker Kylian Mbappé (24) scored a brace for his first game as Les Bleus’ skipper on Friday night when France humbled The Netherlands 4-0 at the Stade de Franc. Les Bleus kicked off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in style, with a comprehensive win over their toughest opponents – on paper – in group B.
With two goals to his name, Mbappé has now scored 38 goals in only 67 games played for France. The 24-year-old PSG forward has overtaken Karim Benzema’s tally of 37 goals to become France’s fifth all-time top scorer.
The Real Madrid forward was not at the Stade de France to witness this passing of the baton, although he was invited as part of the tribute planned for the recent international retirees. 30 of Mbappé’s 38 goals from France have come in a competitive game.
According to Stats Foot, the Paris-born prodigy has found the net 21 times in his last 18 international games – which is the best scoring run in the French national team since the late Just Fontaine in 1960, who scored 27 in that timeframe.
Mbappé is also the first France international to score 11 goals in a single season since Michel Platini, who had 13 strikes between 1983 and 1984.
Furthermore, Mbappé is also the fifth-best performer in France’s history when it comes to playmaking. The 24-year-old registered his 20th assist with Les Bleus on Friday to go level with Platini, Sylvain Wiltord and Youri Djorkaeff.
Goals for France at 24 years and 3 months of age:
-> Olivier Giroud: 0
-> Zinédine Zidane: 5
-> Antoine Griezmann: 6
-> Thierry Henry: 11
-> Michel Platini: 11
-> Karim Benzema: 13
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-> Kylian Mbappé: 38…(via @ActuFoot_)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) March 24, 2023
