When he plays the Republic of Ireland in a Euro 2024 qualifying match, Kylian Mbappe will attempt to set aside thoughts of overtaking French great Michel Platini’s record for most goals scored internationally.
The 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star, who scored twice in Friday’s convincing 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, is set to lead Didier Deschamps’ team in Dublin on Monday.
Following Mbappe’s hat-trick in the agonizing World Cup final defeat by Argentina in December, those goals were scored.
Only three goals behind playmaker Platini, Mbappe has now scored 38 goals for his country, but he is still far from Olivier Giroud’s 53-goal France record.
In a press conference before the game on Sunday, Mbappe said, “For me, it’s an honor to be at this moment.” “That’s my next goal, and I’ll keep working toward it; tomorrow might come or it might not.”
“Certainly, Michel Platini is a French football great, but I’ll eventually surpass him.”
Hugo Lloris was replaced as captain of France by Mbappe, who was named by coach Deschamps. Deschamps was confident that Mbappe would put the needs of the team before any personal objectives.
Deschamps remarked, “That’s Kylian; he’s full of ambition, always setting himself new objectives, new aspirations.” “Yet, the group, the collective, takes precedence. Though he has quickly passed by everyone, he is still driven to move forward.”
