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The encounter between France and Iraq this evening will mark a major milestone for Kylian Mbappé, as the French forward is poised to reach his 100th cap for the national team. At just 27 years old, Mbappé has already established himself as a French football legend and holds the record as the country’s all-time leading goal scorer, with many seasons still ahead of him to further enhance his achievements.

Mbappé’s journey with the French national side began at a very young age. In 2017, during a match against Luxembourg, the then 18-year-old made his debut, coming on as a substitute for Dimitri Payet.

A year later, Mbappé featured in his first FIFA World Cup as a starter. That tournament proved to be a turning point in his career, as he played a crucial role in helping France lift the trophy, even scoring in the final.

Now at 27 and still at the peak of his abilities, Mbappé finds himself competing in his third World Cup, continuing to set new records while chasing a third appearance in a World Cup final. In 2022, despite scoring a memorable hat-trick in the final, he had to settle for the runner-up position after France were defeated by Lionel Messi’s Argentina.

Leading up to the current tournament, Mbappé broke into the top 10 list of players with the most appearances for France. With the match against Iraq, he will join the elite club of players who have represented the national team 100 times. Hugo Lloris tops this distinguished list with 145 caps, alongside other iconic figures such as Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Patrick Vieira, and current head coach Didier Deschamps.

Among such illustrious company, Mbappé has managed to carve out his own remarkable legacy. During this World Cup, he overtook Olivier Giroud—his striking partner from the 2018 championship-winning team—to become France’s all-time top scorer. He currently has 58 goals for his country.

Mbappé averages 0.59 goals per match for France and has contributed 34 assists in total. His World Cup statistics are particularly impressive: 14 goals and two assists in 15 matches, 13 of which he started. That translates to more than one goal involvement per game on average, with standout performances in both finals he has contested.

“There is nothing more special than representing your country. Playing my 100th match, and that too at the World Cup, will be a truly unique experience,” the striker shared.

With France once again among the favourites to claim the title, Mbappé continues to chase history. He is just one goal away from matching Ronaldo’s tally in World Cup goals and two shy of the record jointly held by Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi. The Argentine, Mbappé’s former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, is participating in his final World Cup. Mbappé, meanwhile, still has time on his side to pursue further glory.

Even if his journey were to end today, Mbappé’s place among the greats of French football would already be firmly secured.