![\"Will](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131916768,imgsize-99950,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/france39s-mbapp-is-having-a-record-setting-world-cup-other-marks-could-fall-as-les-bleus-advance.jpg\" "\\"France's")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFrance’s all-time leading scorer is expected to make his 100th international appearance against Iraq, with Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 also closing in on several of the biggest goalscoring records in World Cup historyFrance head into their second Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup knowing that victory over Iraq would secure qualification for the Round of 32. For Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, however, the occasion carries an additional layer of significance as he prepares to reach one of the most important milestones of his international career.The France captain is set to make his 100th appearance for Les Bleus when Didier Deschamps’ side face Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The milestone comes less than a week after Mbapp\u00e9 became France’s all-time leading goalscorer, adding another remarkable achievement to his international career.While official starting line-ups are not released until approximately one hour before kick-off, there are currently no fitness concerns surrounding the Real Madrid forward and both the player and France camp have openly discussed the milestone throughout the build-up to the match. Mbapp\u00e9 himself addressed the occasion during France’s pre-match media duties, leaving little doubt that he is expected to feature.“It’s always a great pleasure to have the chance to play for the national team. Nothing is bigger than the national team. 100 is a milestone and it will be special for me, but the importance of the match will take precedence. We have to win to qualify.”The milestone arrives with France well placed in Group I after opening their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, a match in which Mbapp\u00e9 scored twice. However, Les Bleus are level on three points with Norway, who began their tournament with an emphatic 4-1 win over Iraq and currently hold a superior goal difference of three.<\/p>\n France began their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Senegal in New Jersey, overcoming a difficult opening examination to take control of their qualification hopes.Mbapp\u00e9’s brace proved decisive and elevated him above Olivier Giroud as the leading goalscorer in French men’s international football history. The two goals moved him onto 58 goals for France, surpassing Giroud’s previous record of 57 and establishing a new benchmark for future generations.The result also placed France in a strong position heading into a meeting with an Iraqi side that suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway in their opening fixture.Didier Deschamps has repeatedly stressed that qualification remains the immediate objective.“The primary objective is to secure the victory and qualification,” the France coach said. “We’ll think about the final standings before our third match; one thing at a time.”Mbapp\u00e9 echoed that sentiment when discussing the challenge posed by Iraq.“There’s still a long way to go; we’ve only won one match. Tomorrow will be difficult, but we’re on the right track. We mustn’t look too far ahead; we need to take each match as it comes.”A victory would guarantee France a place in the knockout rounds with one group-stage fixture still to play.<\/p>\n Should Mbapp\u00e9 take the field as expected, he will become only the 10th French player to reach 100 international appearances.The achievement is particularly remarkable given his age. Still only 27, Mbapp\u00e9 made his France debut in 2017 as an 18-year-old and has accumulated 99 appearances and 58 goals in fewer than a decade at senior international level.Reaching 100 caps would place him among the most significant figures in French football history, with the 27-year-old still expected to add considerably to that total. <\/p>\n France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo\/Steve Luciano)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The milestone could also prove to be merely another step towards even larger appearance records.Didier Deschamps, now France coach, made 103 appearances for the national team during his playing career. If France enjoy a deep run at this tournament, Mbapp\u00e9 could potentially move beyond that figure before the competition concludes.Looking further ahead, Goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris remains France’s all-time appearance leader with 145 caps, a mark that increasingly appears within reach if Mbapp\u00e9 remains healthy and continues his current trajectory.<\/p>\n While the appearance milestone will dominate headlines before kick-off, Mbapp\u00e9 also enters the match within touching distance of several historic World Cup records.His two goals against Senegal increased his World Cup tally to 14 goals.That total places him level with Germany legend Gerd M\u00fcller and leaves him only a handful of goals away from the most prolific scorers the tournament has ever produced.The current all-time World Cup scoring leaderboard is remarkably congested near the top:<\/p>\n The mathematics are straightforward.A single goal against Iraq would move Mbapp\u00e9 onto 15 goals and level him with Ronaldo Naz\u00e1rio.A brace would take him to 16 goals and draw him level with both Messi and Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring charts.A hat-trick would elevate him to 17 goals and give him sole possession of the record as the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.Given that Mbapp\u00e9 is still only 27 and potentially has several World Cup matches remaining in this tournament alone, the prospect of him eventually owning the record outright appears increasingly realistic.<\/p>\n Regardless of what happens against Iraq, Mbapp\u00e9 already possesses one World Cup record that no player in history can match.The France captain holds the record for the most goals scored in World Cup finals.He scored in France’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in the 2018 final as a teenager before producing one of the most memorable individual performances in World Cup history during the 2022 final against Argentina, scoring a hat-trick despite France ultimately losing on penalties. <\/p>\n France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo\/Frank Franklin II)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Those four goals across two separate World Cup finals remain unmatched by any player.His overall World Cup body of work is equally extraordinary. Mbapp\u00e9 scored four goals during France’s triumphant 2018 campaign before adding eight goals at Qatar 2022, where he finished as the tournament’s Golden Boot winner. The two goals against Senegal have now pushed that total to 14.<\/p>\n Beyond Mbapp\u00e9’s individual milestones, Monday’s contest will also mark a historic occasion for both nations.France and Iraq have never previously met in an official international fixture.According to French football records, this will be only the fourth occasion this century that Les Bleus have faced a completely new opponent at a World Cup.The previous examples produced mixed memories. France lost 1-0 to Senegal in 2002 before defeating Togo 2-0 in 2006 and Honduras 3-0 in 2014.Deschamps will hope this latest first-time encounter produces another positive result and removes any qualification uncertainty before the final group-stage match.For Mbapp\u00e9, meanwhile, the evening offers an opportunity to celebrate a century of international appearances while simultaneously moving closer to some of the most prestigious records in football history.<\/div>\nFrance looking to build on strong start against Iraq<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
The significance of a 100th France appearance<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"Kylian](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-131916821\/kylian-mbapp-by-the-numbers-star-striker-starts-his-world-cup-by-breaking-france-scoring-record.jpg\" "\\"France's")
<\/p>\nWorld Cup history is rapidly coming into view<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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A tournament record already belongs to him<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Kylian](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-131916826\/kylian-mbapp-by-the-numbers-star-striker-starts-his-world-cup-by-breaking-france-scoring-record.jpg\" "\\"France's")
<\/p>\nFirst-ever meeting between France and Iraq<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n