France made the perfect start to their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, but Didier Deschamps’ side had to work hard for the result. Under pressure for long periods, Les Bleus found another gear after halftime thanks to the influence of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué.
The French player ratings reflect a match of two halves. Mbappé delivered when it mattered most, Dayot Upamecano was a defensive leader, while Ousmane Dembélé endured a frustrating evening. Here is a breakdown of each performance.
Mbappé Leads France to Victory
Mike Maignan (6) was rarely tested before halftime despite Nicolas Jackson hitting the post. He was beaten late on by Mbaye’s powerful strike but produced a crucial goal-line save in the closing moments. Jules Koundé (5) offered limited attacking support but became more solid after the break. William Saliba (7) recovered from an uneasy start and made a vital intervention to deny Ismaïla Sarr. Upamecano (8) was France’s standout defender, dominant in duels and decisive when his team was under pressure. Theo Hernandez (5) had a mixed outing and was beaten by Mbaye on Senegal’s goal.
In midfield, Adrien Rabiot (7) grew stronger as the game progressed and delivered a superb pass for Bradley Barcola’s goal. Aurélien Tchouaméni (6) provided valuable defensive work and became more influential after halftime. Désiré Doué (7) struggled early on but came alive in the second half with several dangerous runs. Michael Olise (8) completely transformed the match after the break, registering two assists and producing moments of real quality.
Ousmane Dembélé (4) never truly found his rhythm, making several poor decisions and missing an early opportunity to set up Mbappé. The France captain (9), however, stole the spotlight. After a wasteful start, Mbappé scored twice, became France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals, and once again proved decisive on the biggest stage. Among the substitutes, Bradley Barcola (8) made an immediate impact by scoring just two minutes after coming on, while Rayan Cherki was not on the field long enough to receive a rating.
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