France striker Kylian Mbapp茅 scores his 13th and 14th World Cup goals

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� passed Pel茅 on the World Cup goal-scoring list and moved into first in the record books for France’s national team.

Mbapp茅 scored his 13th and 14th World Cup goals on Tuesday in against Senegal. Those were his 57th and 58th playing internationally, tying and passing Oliver Giroud for the most in the country’s rich history.

鈥淚 play to make history with my country and help my team win the World Cup,鈥� Mbapp茅 said in French, adding that he was thinking of his family, friends and loved ones when he scored.

Mbapp茅 first scored in the 66th minute after having several quality scoring chances denied by goalkeeper 脡douard Mendy, including earlier in the second half. He scored again from long range in the sixth minute of stoppage time, mere seconds after Senegal got its first goal.

鈥淚t was crazy,鈥� France defender William Saliba said. 鈥淲e just conceded the first goal for Senegal, and just one minute after, we score a banger. I was so happy. Yeah, a crazy goal.鈥�

Mbapp茅’s second goal broke a tie with Pel茅. He celebrated by mimicking playing a flute, after comedian James Corden suggested that on his Fox show.

After scoring his second of the afternoon to pass countryman Just Fontaine, the 27-year-old playing in his third World Cup is now tied with Germany鈥檚 Gerd M眉ller for the fourth most in tournament history. Mbapp茅 is one behind Brazil’s Ronaldo and two away from the record of 16 held by Miroslav Klose of Germany and Lionel Messi, who hours later to match that mark.

鈥淥f course I think he has everything to beat the World Cup (record),鈥� Saliba said. 鈥淚 hope he is going to do it in this tournament because for sure he has everything, and I鈥檓 sure that he will do it.鈥�

France coach Didier Deschamps liked what he saw from Mbapp茅 even before putting the ball in the net.

鈥淏efore he scored the first two goals today, as a captain and outside of the field he does a lot for the group,鈥� Deschamps said through an interpreter. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got a global aura due to his real talent. He鈥檚 a very decisive player at all times.鈥�

Deschamps called Mbapp茅 an iconic player, while acknowledging there will always be criticism. That does not seem to be a problem for a player coming off scoring 25 goals this past season for Real Madrid.

鈥淭he critics? It鈥檚 not about revenge,鈥� Mbapp茅 said. 鈥淚f I started playing for all the people who criticize me just to silence them, I鈥檇 have to play until I was 80.鈥�

Mbapp茅 helped France win the World Cup title in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player. Joined up front by D茅sir茅 Dou茅 and reigning Ballon d鈥橭r winner Ousmane Demb茅l茅, France went into this year鈥檚 tournament as the co-favorite along with Spain.

Mbapp茅 had little trouble finding room between Senegal defenders several times in the first 14 or so minutes. But he was sloppy with the ball for much of the rest of the first half before he and his teammates started to mesh.

Then the goals materialized, a good sign for France given the lofty expectations. Mbapp茅 will be counted on to keep scoring to contend to win the World Cup.

鈥淔or him, it鈥檚 a good thing to achieve this thing to be the best scorer of the French national team,鈥� teammate Adrien Rabiot said. 鈥淕reat achievement. We are happy for him. And I hope he will continue like this for the tournament.鈥�

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AP Sports Writer Eric Nunez contributed to this report.

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