Closing in on Klose, Ronaldo and Messi ... Kylian Mbappe was made for the Fifa World Cup

France captain Kylian Mbappé was the star of the show in their win over Senegal.

There are players who dominate club football, and then there are those who seem engineered specifically for the grandest international stage.

Kylian Mbappé continues to prove he belongs emphatically in the latter category. France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal in their opening Group I fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup once again revolved around the 27-year-old superstar, whose clinical brace carried both immediate tournament value and historical significance.

For long periods in New Jersey, Senegal deeply frustrated Didier Deschamps’ side with their intense physicality and disciplined organisation. Memories of the Teranga Lions' famous opening-day upset over the reigning world champions at the 2002 World Cup briefly resurfaced as Les Bleus struggled to impose their rhythm early on.

But elite players alter major tournaments in a matter of moments. Mbappé’s double ultimately swung the contest decisively in France’s favour, reminding the footballing world that the World Cup remains his absolute favourite playground.