Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe moved ahead of three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini on France’s all-time scoring chart with a brace in their 2-1 win against the Netherlands in their UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers on Friday.
The Les Bleus captain took his tally for his nation to 42 goals in 72 matches at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam to become the fourth all-time top scorer for the two-time world champions.
Mbappe netted his first goal of the game in the seventh minute with a fine finish from a Jonathan Clauss’ cross to put him level with Platini, who scored 41 times for France in 72 matches.
Mbappe scores his second of the night ????
1—Olivier Giroud: 54 ⚽
2—Thierry Henry: 51 ⚽
3—Antoine Griezmann: 44 ⚽
4—Kylian Mbappé: 42 ⚽The 4th highest goal scorer in French’s history! pic.twitter.com/MmWsoo72SV
— MrBanks???? (@Mrbankstips) October 13, 2023
The 24-year-old got his second goal of the game with a stunning finish in the 53rd minute. He received the ball on the left from Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot before curling in an incredible effort past Bart Verbruggen and into the top corner.
Feyenoord full-back Quilindschy Hartman pulled one back for Ronald Koeman’s men with a well-taken goal in the 83rd minute, and Mbappe could have sealed a hat-trick for himself, but his strike late in the game struck the crossbar.
France secured all three points over Oranje to go atop Group B of the European Championship qualifiers with six wins from as many games. The Netherlands suffered their second defeat in the group to France after a 4-0 thrashing in Matchday 1 and sit in third place with nine points from five matches.
Mbappe has Antoine Griezmann (44), Thierry Henry (51), and Olivier Giroud (54) in front of him, and the French ace could well overtake Griezmann when they play Scotland in a friendly match next Tuesday at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
