Mbappe Nearing Giroud’s France Scoring Record

Real Madrid’s star striker, Kylian Mbappe, states he has discovered tranquility in Madrid, citing the club’s more composed atmosphere as beneficial for his mental and physical recovery after a demanding period in Paris.

The 26-year-old French national team captain is off to an impressive beginning in his second season with Real Madrid, having scored 14 goals in 10 games across all competitions. Despite his 44 goals during his initial season, Real Madrid did not secure a major title.

Following seven productive seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 256 goals, securing six Ligue 1 titles and four French Cups, Mbappe arrived at Real Madrid as a free agent in June 2024.

In advance of France’s World Cup qualifying match against Azerbaijan on Friday, Mbappe commented on his adjustment from the intense setting of Paris to the more laid-back pace of Madrid.

Mbappe stated, “A career isn’t always smooth. There can be challenging times when one has to persevere through adversity. But I believe I’ve settled in well in Madrid. I’m definitely more at ease here. This is not a critique of France, but it is accurate that life in Madrid is more peaceful and less frantic than in Paris.”

The forward mentioned that the move has helped him develop both as an individual and as a player.

He added, “I believe that’s a component of the development of a person and athlete. I’ve been successful in getting myself back on track, mentally and physically. However, it’s only the beginning of the season, and there is still much to play for and demonstrate.”

On the international scene, France leads Group D with six points from two games. Mbappe is now just five goals away from surpassing Olivier Giroud’s national record of 57 goals for the French national team.

With Giroud’s retirement following Euro 2024, Mbappe has a significant opportunity to further cement his legacy in French soccer history.