After France's 2-1 victory over Senegal, Olivier Giroud texted Kylian Mbappe to congratulate him on eclipsing Giroud's 58‑goal tally for Les Bleus. Giroud recalled a photo taken at the 2022 World Cup, when he broke Thierry Henry’s record, as the perfect illustration of their bond. He insists the striker’s confidence is often mistaken for arrogance.

Giroud explained that Mbappe respects former players and has always spoken kindly about his contributions since leaving the national team. The French captain, now a role model, demands perfection from himself and his teammates, a trait Giroud says mirrors the mindset of any top athlete. He highlighted Mbappe’s selfishness as a striker’s necessity, citing the 2018 goal against Peru.

With 14 World Cup goals, Mbappe sits two behind the joint record holders Klose and Messi and appears set to chase further milestones, including most caps for France. Giroud expressed confidence that the forward will continue breaking records and lead Les Bleus to a third World Cup triumph.