Olivier Giroud congratulates Kylian Mbappe after the striker breaks his France goalscoring record in a 2026 World Cup victory over Senegal.
Right after France defeated Senegal, I sent Kylian Mbappe a text to celebrate his achievement. He had just claimed the all-time top-scorer title for Les Bleus by reaching 58 goals, surpassing my previous record. My message read, 'Congrats bro, I am really happy for you. Well, I kept the record for three-and-a-half years, and it was great—but now it is yours, and you have to go again. Oh, and bro, don't forget to save me your jersey!' We have not spoken yet, but a coaching team member informed me that Kylian acknowledged my message and plans to call me soon.
People often ask about the nature of my relationship with Mbappe, and I shared a special photo that perfectly captures it. The image was taken after I surpassed Thierry Henry’s record to become France’s all-time top scorer during the 2022 World Cup match against Poland. In the picture, Kylian delivered a brilliant assist, and as I celebrated by sliding on my knees toward the corner flag, he jumped into my arms. I told him, 'you know how much I love you, bro.' It was an unforgettable moment, and I am thrilled it was him who broke my record.
Some critics mislabel Kylian Mbappe as arrogant, but I believe that perception is incorrect. He has always shown immense respect for former players and has publicly praised my contributions to the team after my retirement. His maturity and confidence have been evident since he joined the national team as a teenager. His ease in front of the camera and clear ambition reflect his natural self-assurance, not arrogance. Now captain of France, he serves as a role model, and I hope he leads our team to a third World Cup victory.
Beyond his leadership, Kylian is unapologetically selfish on the field, which is essential for a striker. His first World Cup goal in Russia 2018 against Peru came after he capitalized on a rebound I had initially created. When asked if I minded him 'stealing' the goal, my response remains unchanged—absolutely not. Every striker would have done the same. With 14 World Cup goals now and only two behind Klose and Messi, he is on track to break that record as well.
At 27, Kylian still has at least one more World Cup ahead of him, meaning he could surpass the current tournament goalscoring record. His next milestone for France is the most appearances, as he currently has 99 caps while Hugo Lloris holds the record with 145. I hope he breaks every record in his path, as he truly deserves it. His journey with the team has been remarkable, and I will always cherish the moments we shared.