Giroud Reveals His Text to Mbappe After France Record: ‘It’s Yours Now — Go Even Further’

58 goals. On 16 June 2026, Kylian Mbappe rewrote French football history as he surpassed Olivier Giroud’s record to become Les Bleus’ all-time top scorer in a 2-0 win over Senegal. Within hours, a text message from the man he displaced revealed the true nature of their relationship — and served the clearest possible warning to England about what awaits them if their paths cross in this World Cup.

Giroud’s Text to Mbappe: The Exact Words Behind the Record

‘Congrats bro, I am really happy for you. Well, I kept the record for three-and-a-half years, and it was great — but now it is yours, and you have to go again… oh, and bro, don’t forget to save me your jersey!’ That was the message Olivier Giroud sent Kylian Mbappe in the minutes after France’s opening World Cup group win. For a sporting relationship so often framed as tense by outside observers, the warmth of those words is striking. This is not a man bitter about being overtaken — this is a champion who knows exactly how to pass the torch.

Giroud has not yet spoken to Mbappe directly. A member of the France coaching staff relayed the response: Kylian received the text and will call soon. The jersey promise — made before the record was even broken — also remains intact. Mbappe had already committed to giving Giroud the shirt he wore when he surpassed the total, and Giroud confirmed he intends to collect. A small detail, but one that tells you everything about the mutual respect these two players have built through years as international teammates.

58 Goals and the Warning It Sends to England at World Cup 2026

Kylian Mbappe is 27 years old, the all-time leading scorer for one of the world’s greatest international teams, and playing at the peak of his powers. For England under Thomas Tuchel — who managed Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain and knows better than most what he is capable of — this record-breaking moment against Senegal is the most significant number of this tournament. Mbappe in form, confident and historically motivated is not a player any defence in the world wants to face.

France are in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq and Norway — a draw that should see Mbappe arrive at the knockout rounds fresh and with his confidence sky-high. England, in Group L, could feasibly face France in the quarterfinals or semifinals depending on results. Tuchel will need no reminding of Mbappe’s ability to decide matches on his own. The question is whether he has built an England side capable of imposing themselves before Mbappe gets into his stride — because once he does, stopping him becomes close to impossible.

Is Mbappe Actually Arrogant? Giroud’s Answer Should Change the Narrative

Mbappe’s public image has long divided opinion in England. He is frequently characterised as cold, calculating and difficult — an impression shaped by high-profile contract disputes and his sometimes detached post-match demeanour. Giroud, who knows him better than almost anyone outside the France squad, offers a completely different account. Mbappe is simply misread, he argues. The intense focus he displays before and during matches is mistaken for arrogance by those who do not know him. Off the pitch, Giroud insists, he is warm, genuine and deeply connected to his teammates.

The credibility of this defence is hard to overstate. Giroud is not a childhood friend lobbying for good press or an agent managing a narrative. He is the man whose most significant professional record Mbappe has just broken. The fact that Giroud’s first instinct was to pick up the phone and send a congratulatory text — and that Mbappe’s first instinct was to send warmth back through the coaching staff — suggests a relationship built on something genuine. England’s players and staff should take note: the Mbappe they will potentially face is not just a clinical finisher, he is a motivated, grounded competitor.

Kane, Bellingham and England’s Real Challenge: Matching Mbappe’s Record-Breaking Mentality

The Mbappe story is not purely about goals — it is about the weight of leadership at a major tournament. At 27, he carries France in a way few players in history have managed for their national team. The comparison with England is unavoidable: Harry Kane is a prolific scorer, Jude Bellingham is one of the world’s finest midfielders, but neither has yet delivered a performance on the scale that defined Mbappe in Russia 2018, when he became only the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final.

Tuchel’s challenge is to build an England identity that does not simply react to what Mbappe does. The record-breaking moment against Senegal will have been dissected in every England tactical meeting since. If the draw delivers this fixture, Tuchel will need his players to be proactive from the first minute — pressing high, winning second balls and denying Mbappe the space in behind that has undone so many defences before. Because against a player who has just become the greatest scorer in his nation’s history, half-measures will not be enough.

FAQ