France, the World Cup favorites who apparently didn't get the memo about taking it easy in friendlies, decided to remind everyone why they're the team to beat. After a first half that could generously be described as 'sputtering,' they shifted into a second half that combined physical intensity and technical ability that most club sides can only dream of - never mind national teams. And just for fun, Kylian Mbappé decided to break France's all-time scoring record, because his trophy case wasn't crowded enough.
Mbappé tucked away a superb pass from Michael Olise just after the hour mark, turning what had been a keenly fought contest into a procession. Substitute Bradley Barcola doubled the lead in the last 10 minutes, before a chaotic period of added time gave Senegal brief hope. Mbappé then scored his second of the night, his 58th for France, surpassing Olivier Giroud to become the country's all-time leading goalscorer. Cue the confetti.
The first 25 minutes were mostly France failing to capitalize on openings, with Ousmane Dembélé nearly threading a pass to Mbappé in the 11th minute, only for the captain to fail to control the ball. Kalidou Koulibaly's casual chest control in the 14th minute nearly gifted possession to France, but Édouard Mendy held on. Senegal then woke up and created the first real chance in the 25th minute, when Nicolas Jackson hit the inside of the near post, and Mike Maignan was lucky to see it deflect wide off his heel.
After a hydration break - because apparently even professional athletes need a reminder to drink water - Senegal were the better side, composed off the ball and dangerous on the break. Just before half-time, Sadio Mané ghosted into the box and laid the ball off to Ismaïla Sarr, who promptly made poor contact and sent his shot sailing over the bar. France returned after the interval fired up and more assertive, with Désiré Doué getting his first shot off immediately, bending it around a post. Then Olise had his moment, a turnover in midfield sending him clear on goal, only for Mendy to make a crucial save. Four minutes later, Olise sent Mbappé clear again, but again Mendy got a crucial touch.
By the hour mark, France were dominant, and a goal felt inevitable. Mbappé burst down the right, forcing Mané into a sliding challenge in the box. The referee awarded a corner, video replays suggested a foul, but after a monitor review, the referee chose not to change his mind, surprising everyone in the ground. The decision didn't affect the match, as Olise and Mbappé continued to purr. Olise burst through the middle and slipped a ball beyond the Senegal defence that Mbappé couldn't reach, but the next time, Olise bisected two lines of opposition with a superlative pass, and Mbappé slotted home first-time with consummate ease.
Jackson had a couple of efforts for Senegal, blazing one into the top corner only to be ruled offside. Dembélé was withdrawn for Barcola, who eliminated all doubt by running onto another diagonal through ball and chipping calmly past Mendy. Then came the chaotic added time: substitute Ibrahim Mbaye slammed in a shot that Maignan couldn't stop, before Mbappé blasted one from range that Mendy might have done better with. One down, seven more to go - presumably referring to the number of goals Mbappé still needs to break some other arbitrary record.