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Kylian Mbappé Joins Elite Company as Fourth-Youngest European to Reach 50 International Goals
LEIPZIG, Germany — Kylian Mbappé once again etched his name into footballing lore, scoring his 50th international goal in France’s 2-0 victory over Germany in the UEFA Nations League third-place playoff on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old phenom broke the deadlock with a moment of individual brilliance just before halftime, cutting inside and firing past Marc-André ter Stegen to secure a milestone only three Frenchmen have ever achieved.
A Historic Milestone
Mbappé now sits behind only Thierry Henry (51 goals) and all-time leading scorer Olivier Giroud (57) in France’s scoring charts. Given his age and blistering form, surpassing Giroud’s record appears inevitable.
Globally, he ranks as the fourth-youngest European to hit the half-century mark, trailing only:
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Sándor Kocsis (Hungary) – 24 years, 21 days
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Ferenc Puskás (Hungary) – 25 years, 42 days
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Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) – 25 years, 267 days
A Statement Performance
France, still reeling from their semifinal defeat to Spain, needed a response—and Mbappé delivered. His goal, followed by a second-half strike from Antoine Griezmann, ensured Les Bleus left Germany with a bronze medal and momentum ahead of Euro 2024.
What’s Next for Mbappé?
Fresh off winning his first European Golden Shoe with Real Madrid, the French captain shows no signs of slowing down. With 90 caps and 50 goals, his next target is clear: overtaking Giroud and cementing his legacy as France’s greatest-ever scorer.
