Ukraine 0-2 France: Mbappe levels Henry in winning start to World Cup qualifiers

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.

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).