Kylian Mbappé continued his remarkable scoring streak by netting a stunning opener in France’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win against Azerbaijan at Parc des Princes.
Mbappé broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time with his 17th goal in 13 appearances for club and country this season — and his 53rd in all for the national team.
The Real Madrid forward is now within four goals of Olivier Giroud’s record of 57 for France, and his strike against Azerbaijan marked his career-best 10th match in a row where he has found the back of the net.
Adrien Rabiot doubled France’s lead after 69 minutes before substitute Florian Thauvin added a third with six minutes left on a comfortable night for the home side.
The Mbappé-inspired win allows Didier Deschamps’ squad to retain their 100 percent record at the top of Group D as Les Bleus took another significant step towards qualification.
The 2022 World Cup runners-up sit on nine points, with Ukraine on four points following their 5-3 win over Iceland. Iceland and Azerbaijan remain on three points and one point, respectively.
Speaking on the eve of Friday’s fixture in the French capital, head coach Deschamps insisted his side would not take the 124th-ranked team in the world lightly. Despite dominating possession, France had to wait until the second minute of first-half added time before they took the lead.
Heading into the match, Mbappé had failed to find the net in just one match this season — Real Madrid’s 2-1 LaLiga win against Mallorca on Aug. 30.
And it was the former Paris Saint-Germain man, now in his second season with Madrid, who sent France on their way with a wonderful individual goal.
He picked up the ball just over the halfway line before embarking on a mazy run, which left as many as six Azerbaijan players bamboozled as he danced his way towards goal, before slotting his finish into the bottom corner.
Mbappé then turned provider for his side’s second when his lofted cross was met by an unmarked Rabiot, who glanced home with 21 minutes to play.
Crystal Palace‘s Jean-Philippe Mateta was then handed his debut for France when he came off the substitutes bench before Thauvin completed a convincing win with a fine finish in the closing stages as Les Bleus saw out their third victory from three so far.