Kylian Mbappe Nears France's All-Time Scoring Record With 2-1 Win Over Brazil In Friendly

Last Updated:March 27, 2026, 07:21 IST

Kylian Mbappe nears Olivier Giroud record as France beat Brazil 2-1 in US friendly, with Hugo Ekitike scoring and Gleison Bremer replying for Carlo Ancelotti side.

Kylian Mbappe moved to within one goal of equalling France’s all-time scoring record with the opener in a 2-1 win over Brazil, as two of the leading World Cup contenders met in a glamour friendly in the United States on Thursday.

Mbappe ran through and beat goalkeeper Ederson with a chipped finish to give France the lead just after the half-hour mark at Gillette Stadium, near Boston, home of NFL side the New England Patriots.

France, World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, had defender Dayot Upamecano sent off early in the second half but still doubled their lead through Hugo Ekitike on 65 minutes.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil pulled one back 12 minutes from time with a close-range finish by Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, but Les Bleus held on for a victory that will boost confidence two and a half months before the World Cup begins. They will face Senegal, Norway and a play-off winner in the group stage.

“I said beforehand that we couldn’t take too much away from this game. It wasn’t the World Cup final, but it showed we are in a good dynamic," Mbappe told broadcaster TF1.

“We are creating lots of chances and we are looking a bit more solid even if we let in a goal at the end. We are moving forward and this will help us prepare for the World Cup."

The sight of captain Mbappe scoring in trademark lethal fashion is particularly encouraging for coach Didier Deschamps, as the Real Madrid superstar has only recently returned from three weeks out with a knee injury.

The 27-year-old has now scored 56 goals in 95 appearances for his country, leaving him just one goal away from equalling the France record of 57 goals held by the recently retired Olivier Giroud.

Mbappe will have the chance to match, and possibly surpass, that record when France play Colombia in the second friendly of this American tour, at the Northwest Stadium near Washington DC on Sunday.

Brazil head into this year’s World Cup — where they will face Morocco, Scotland and Haiti in the group stage — hoping that the recent appointment of the revered Ancelotti as coach can turn them into serious contenders to claim a record-extending sixth title.

Ancelotti said he was “half-satisfied" with Thursday’s result.

“When you lose a game, you should never be happy… The result isn’t the most important thing, but it does reveal what we did well and what we didn’t," Ancelotti said.

“In the overall context of the game, I am satisfied — because the team competed and fought, even scoring from a set piece, which is important. I am half-satisfied, but we certainly shouldn’t be happy with the result."

The match served as a reminder of the standards required against the very best sides in international football.

Missing Stars

Brazil were missing several key players, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defensive duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Eder Militao, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and forwards Rodrygo and Estevao among those absent.

France, meanwhile, were without Arsenal centre-back William Saliba, but still fielded a fearsome attack featuring Mbappe, Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, the reigning Ballon d’Or.

Dembele released Mbappe for the opener, which separated the teams at the break.

Upamecano was sent off on 55 minutes after American referee Guido Gonzales upgraded a yellow card to red following a VAR review, ruling that the defender had denied Wesley a clear goal-scoring opportunity as he brought down the full-back on the edge of the area.

Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, a late call-up to replace the injured Saliba, came on for Dembele to make his debut and reinforce the French back line.

France then increased their lead when Olise supplied Ekitike in the area and the Liverpool striker clipped the ball beyond Ederson for his second international goal.

Mbappe and Ekitike were promptly substituted, and Brazil were left with too much to do, even though Bremer converted from close range from Luiz Henrique’s assist to make it 2-1.

Ancelotti will now hope his team can respond when they face Croatia in Orlando, Florida, next Tuesday.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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