Mbappe France goals: Levels Henry as France beat Ukraine 2-0

Mbappe France goals: Kylian Mbappe equals Thierry Henry as France beat Ukraine 2-0 in World Cup qualifier with a brilliant late strike. Kylian Mbappe reached a remarkable milestone by equaling Thierry Henry’s tally of 51 goals for France as Les Bleus secured a 2-0 victory against Ukraine in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifying match.

France set the tone early, with Michael Olise breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute after sliding in a perfectly timed pass from Bradley Barcola. The team’s fluid attacking play and high-tempo 4-2-3-1 formation kept Ukraine on the back foot throughout the first half.

Mbappe’s Milestone Goal Seals Victory

The defining moment came in the 82nd minute when Mbappe completed a swift counterattack, assisted by his Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, to score a clinical finish. This strike moved him to 51 international goals, placing him level with Thierry Henry as France’s second-highest scorer, trailing only Olivier Giroud, who has 57 goals.

Injury Concerns for France

France faced some injury setbacks during the match. Second-half substitute Ousmane Dembele, who had already missed training earlier in the week due to a thigh issue, had to leave the field in the 81st minute after aggravating the same injury. Desire Doue, who started the match, also left before halftime due to a calf knock, allowing Hugo Ekitike to make his debut.

Ukraine’s Fightback

Despite France’s early dominance, Ukraine grew more threatening in the second half. Ivan Kalyuzhnyi forced a crucial clearance from Ibrahima Konate, and Illia Zabarnyi hit the post, creating a tense period for the French defense. However, Mbappe’s late strike effectively ended the contest, allowing France to maintain a comfortable lead until the final whistle.

France’s Group D Outlook

The win gives the reigning 2018 champions a strong start in Group D, which also features Iceland and Azerbaijan. France will host Iceland in Paris on Tuesday, while Ukraine travels to Baku after Iceland’s 5-0 demolition of Azerbaijan. With Mbappe in record-chasing form and Olise showing his rising talent, Les Bleus are off to an impressive start in their World Cup qualifying campaign.