Kylian Mbappe drew level with Thierry Henry as France's second-highest goalscorer as Les Bleus started their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Ukraine.
2026 World Cup qualification Europe
0-2
Match Report
France captain Mbappe netted his 51st international goal to move within six of all-time record-holder Olivier Giroud, with Michael Olise also on target at the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw.
Didier Deschamps' team went ahead in the 10th minute, with Olise calmly finding the bottom-right corner after Bradley Barcola picked him out in the centre of the box.
Desire Doue then worked Anatoliy Trubin while Mbappe fired over following a superb give-and-go with Manu Kone, while an Aurelien Tchouameni shot faded wide of the post.
Ukraine reached half-time having only attempted one shot, and they almost went 2-0 down nine minutes after the restart as Olise's volley grazed the upright.
Ukraine finally applied some pressure as Ibrahima Konate blocked on the line from Artem Dovbyk, while Illia Zabarnyi diverted Mykola Matviienko's cross-shot against the post.
But they were made to pay for passing up those opportunities as Mbappe put the contest to bed in the 82nd minute, dribbling past Zabarnyi with ease before squeezing his finish past Trubin.
France join their next opponents Iceland on three points in Group D, with Ukraine and Azerbaijan yet to get off the mark.
51 - Kylian Mbappé has scored his 51st goal for France, equalling Thierry Henry as the second highest scorer ever of the team (57 for Olivier Giroud). Jefe. pic.twitter.com/OERcHgCYGR
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 5, 2025
Data Debrief: Mbappe races to 51
Mbappe led all players on the pitch for touches inside the penalty area (six) and had the joint-most shots (four), also amassing more expected goals (0.61 xG) than anyone else.
He had to bide his time to get on the scoresheet, but he took his 51st senior international goal brilliantly, matching Henry's total in 32 fewer caps than the Arsenal legend won (91 compared to 123).
Elsewhere, Deschamps handed maiden caps to Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike and Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche.
The latter is the 54th player to make his France debut as a Monaco player, at least 12 more than any other club (Lyon have had 44 Blues debutants).
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
10' GOAL! Olise opens the scoring from Barcola's cross! Ukraine 0-1 France
17' Olise has a volley in the box, which is saved by the keeper
23' Mbappe has a shot from distance high over the bar
36' Highlight from Ukraine vs France
41' Mbappe gets through the defence and has a shot blocked
55' Olise's shot with the outside of his left foot is wide
58' Dembele misses a one-on-one chance with the keeper
65' Match Event for Ukraine vs France
66' Highlight from Ukraine vs France
68' Highlight from Ukraine vs France
72' Match Event for Ukraine vs France
75' Barcola misses a great chance as his shot is so high
81' Dembele is injured off and replaced by Ekitike
82' GOAL! Mbappe has a perfect solo show and doubles the lead! Ukraine 0-2 France
90' Highlight from Ukraine vs France
Line-ups
Ukraine XI: Zinchenko, Mykola Matvienko, Oleksandr Zubkov, Oleksiy Gutsulyak, Artem Dovbyk, Ivan Kalyuzhnyi, Anatoliy Trubin, Yukhym Konoplya, G. Sudakov, Ilya Zabarnyi, Yegor Yarmolyuk
Subs: Georgiy Bushchan, Oleksandr Svatok, Bogdan Mykhaylichenko, Mykola Shaparenko, Oleksandr Nazarenko, Valeriy Bondar, Artem Bondarenko, Vladyslav Vanat, Dmytro Riznyk, Oleg Ocheretko, Nazar Voloshyn, Taras Mykhavko
France XI: Digne, Maignan, Mbappe, Upamecano, Konate, Kounde, Tchouameni, Manu Koné, Olise, Barcola, Doue
Subs: Brice Samba, Rabiot, Lucas, Dembele, Thuram, Pavard, Theo, Khéphren Thuram, Lucas Chevalier, Hugo Ekitiké, Gusto, Maghnes Akliouche