France’s all-time goalscorer is expected to make his 100th international appearance against Iraq, with Kylian Mbappé also closing in on many of the greatest goalscoring records in World Cup history.France go into their second Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup knowing that victory over Iraq will secure qualification for the Round of 32. For Kylian Mbappé, however, the occasion carries an additional layer of significance as he prepares to reach one of the most important milestones of his international career.The France captain will make his 100th appearance for Les Bleus when Didier Deschamps’ side face Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The milestone comes less than a week after Mbappé became France’s all-time leading goalscorer, adding another remarkable achievement to his international career.While the official starting line-ups are not released until around an hour before kick-off, there are currently no fitness concerns surrounding the Real Madrid striker and the player and the France camp have openly discussed the stage in the build-up to the match. Mbappé himself addressed the occasion during France’s pre-match media briefing, leaving little doubt that he is expected to feature.“It’s always a great pleasure to have the opportunity to play for the national team. Nothing is bigger than the national team. 100 is a milestone and it will be special for me, but the importance of the match comes first. We have to win to qualify.”The stage comes with France well placed in Group I after opening their campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal, a match in which Mbappé scored twice. However, Les Bleus are level on three points with Norway, who started their tournament with an emphatic 4-1 win over Iraq and currently hold a superior goal difference of three.
France is looking to build on a strong start against Iraq
France kicked off their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 3-1 win over Senegal in New Jersey, overcoming a difficult opening test to take control of their qualification hopes.Mbappé’s brace was decisive and lifted him above Olivier Giroud as the top goalscorer in the history of French men’s international football. The two goals moved him on to 58 goals for France, surpassing Giroud’s previous record of 57 and setting a new benchmark for future generations.The result also put France in a strong position going into a meeting with an Iraqi side who suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway in their opening match.Didier Deschamps has repeatedly insisted that qualification remains the immediate goal.“The primary objective is to secure victory and qualification,” said the France coach. “Let’s think about the final standings before our third match; one thing at a time.”Mbappé echoed that sentiment when discussing the challenge posed by Iraq.“There is still a long way to go; we have only won one match. Tomorrow will be difficult, but we are on the right path. We must not look too far ahead; we must take each match as it comes.”A win would guarantee France a place in the knockout rounds with one group stage game still to play.
The importance of the 100th appearance in France
If Mbappé takes the field as planned, he will become only the 10th French player to reach 100 international appearances.The success is particularly remarkable given his age. Still only 27, Mbappé made his France debut in 2017 as an 18-year-old and has amassed 99 appearances and 58 goals in less than a decade at senior international level.Reaching 100 caps will put him among the most significant figures in French football history, with the 27-year-old expected to add considerably to that total.
France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates after scoring his third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
The milestone could also be just another step towards an even bigger appearance record.Didier Deschamps, now coach of France, made 103 appearances for the national team during his playing career. If France enjoy a deep run in this tournament, Mbappé could be removed from that figure before the competition ends.Looking further ahead, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris remains France’s all-time appearance leader with 145 appearances, a mark that looks increasingly within reach if Mbappé stays healthy and continues on his current trajectory.
World Cup history is soon in sight
While the appearance stage will dominate the headlines before kick-off, Mbappé also enters the match within striking distance of several historic World Cup records.His two goals against Senegal took his World Cup tally to 14 goals.That total puts him level with German legend Gerd Müller and leaves him just a handful of goals behind the most prolific goalscorers the tournament has ever produced.The current all-time World Cup points standings are noticeably congested near the top:
- Lionel Messi – 16 goals
- Miroslav Klose – 16 goals
- Ronaldo Nazario – 15 goals
- Kylian Mbappé – 14 goals
The math is straightforward.A single goal against Iraq would move Mbappé to 15 goals and level with Ronaldo Nazário.A brace took him to 16 goals and would take him level with both Messi and Klose at the top of the all-time World Cup charts.A hat-trick would take him to 17 goals and give him sole possession of the record as the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.As Mbappé is still only 27 years old and potentially has several World Cup matches remaining in this tournament alone, the prospect of him eventually owning the record outright seems increasingly realistic.
A tournament record already belongs to him
Regardless of what happens against Iraq, Mbappé already has a World Cup record that no other player in history can match.The France captain holds the record for the most goals scored in the World Cup final.He scored in France’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the 2018 final as a teenager before producing one of the most memorable individual performances in World Cup history during the 2022 final against Argentina, scoring a hat-trick despite France ultimately losing on penalties.
France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Those four goals in two separate World Cup finals remain unmatched by any player.His overall World Cup work is equally extraordinary. Mbappé scored four goals during France’s triumphant 2018 campaign before adding eight goals at Qatar 2022, where he finished as the tournament’s Golden Boot winner. The two goals against Senegal have now pushed that total to 14.
First meeting between France and Iraq
Beyond Mbappé’s individual milestones, Monday’s contest will also mark a historic occasion for both nations.France and Iraq have never met in an official international match.According to French football records, this will be only the fourth occasion this century that Les Bleus have faced an entirely new opponent in a World Cup.The previous examples produced mixed memories. France lost 1-0 to Senegal in 2002 before beating Togo 2-0 in 2006 and Honduras 3-0 in 2014.Deschamps will be hoping that this latest clash for the first time produces another positive result and removes any qualification uncertainty ahead of the final match of the group stage.For Mbappé, meanwhile, the evening offers the opportunity to celebrate a century of international appearances, while simultaneously closing in on some of the most prestigious records in football history.
