EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — On a Tuesday afternoon in northern New Jersey, one of the world’s biggest sports stars did what the all-time greats so often do: rise to the occasion, even with an opponent fully committed to making life difficult.
It was a thrill to witness, made even more memorable by a perfect 75-degree day and a crowd of more than 80,000 taking it all in.
Kylian Mbappé already belongs among soccer’s elite, yet his remarkable career still appears to have plenty of chapters left. It’s easy to lose sight of that as he begins his third World Cup — already owning both a winner’s medal and a runner-up finish — while still just 27 years old. That’s part of what makes this moment so compelling for the World Cup on American soil. On Tuesday, he emphatically reintroduced himself to the tournament’s biggest platform, delivering a second-half performance that served as another reminder that the very best athletes have an uncanny ability to impose themselves when it matters most, turning possibility into reality.
Mbappé slipped in the first goal of France’s match against Senegal in the 66th minute, finally breaking through in Group I’s opening contest. But it was his second strike — unleashed from roughly 30 yards in the final minute of extra time to make it 3-1 France — that separated him from nearly everyone else in the sport.
After Senegal pulled within 2-1 in stoppage time, Mbappé needed less than two minutes to settle it with what stood as the World Cup’s most explosive goal through the tournament’s first six days. The stunning finish sent a message to the rest of the field and immediately established the tone for France in its opening match, with hopes of returning to this same stadium for the World Cup final on July 19.
Having been at both events, I can say this too: Tuesday’s display was the finest performance at MetLife Stadium since Oasis played its unforgettable two-night stand there last summer. On this occasion, Mbappé was simply unstoppable.
It was riveting for the spectacle, but special for the historic element. Mbappé’s two goals lifted him atop the all-time French table. His lifetime tally of goals for the French national team now logs at 58, placing him above France’s longtime stalwart, Olivier Giroud for most in that country’s history.
Mbappé is also, now, at 14 World Cup goals, tied for third-most all-time with Gerd Müller and only trailing Ronaldo‘s 15 (for now) and Miroslav Klose‘s and Lionel Messi’s 16. He’s got a chance to hold the record by the start of the knockout stage, let alone at the end of the tournament … but only if Lionel Messi doesn’t relent. (Less than two hours after this column was initially published, Mesi surpassed Mbappé after the first World Cup hat trick of his career in Argentine’s 3-0 blanking of Algeria in Kansas City.)
And as for the scenes Tuesday afternoon in Jersey: If you have the means to attend at least one World Cup match, you have to. As I made my way through the crowds on the concourse level and into the seats, I saw kits from at least a dozen countries. In what’s fast becoming a running theme, Mexico was particularly prominent here. But of course, the crowd was heavily draped in blue, red and white. The French showed up early, taking over MetLife Stadium.
I typically cover basketball games for CBS Sports, but living in the northeast, I’ve been to a handful of NFL games as a fan at both MetLife Stadium and its predecessor, Giants Stadium. I was in the stands on a Sunday night in 2006 when Chicago Bears speedster Devin Hester brought back the second-most famous return of his Hall of Fame career, a 108-yard house call after a missed field goal.
I remember the roar and awe of the crowd on that night as it watched the most brilliant return man in NFL history tap into his greatness.
That roar and awe was even greater on Tuesday, and it was like that not just because of the World Cup — but because of Mbappé. The event’s return to the United States for the first time in 32 years is going to reignite this country’s passion not just for soccer (potentially on a level that’s never been seen here), but for the epic theater that this incredible global event will provide — and its stars will make it marquee.
Mbappé has a keen sense for the moment. France got off to a terrible start, only managing one shot on goal in the first half to Senegal’s five.
By the game’s end, it was 11-6 in France’s favor. The expected goal battle tilted toward the favorite, with France pulling ahead 1.79 to 0.56. Despite a slow start, France was clearly the dominant side by match’s end.
CBS Sports
That’s because France is arguably the most loaded team in this event. They are stacked with attackers. They can sub in some of the most gifted players in the world. Bradley Barcola of Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain scored France’s second, the other substiute for France, Premier League runner-up Rayan Cherki. While other highly rated countries have been a tad sluggish to start, with other top-tier favorites Brazil and Spain dropping points, Les Bleus are immediately off and booming.
It all starts with Mbappé, whose celebrity reach was palpable around the stadium from start to finish. The crowd’s collective response every time the ball hit his foot was like a jerk to the senses. He practically tilts the field while simultaneously flaring your attention. There is a magnetism to him that few athletes carry.
And any possession feels like it could end with a blast of dynamite.
In Group I, France are the overwhelming favorite to leave with three wins and stomp into the knockout stage. Despite that inevitability, Mbappé’s presence makes France must-see every game, no matter the opposing side.
To get to see this was something I’ll never forget, and I’m saying this about an opening match in group play with more than a month remaining in this terrific tournament. You can’t just wave off greatness when you see it. It stays with you. The only athletes I’ve ever watched in person who could compare to Mbappé’s presence, crowd control and greatness are Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. And while he’s not on that level yet, could he get there in the next decade?
Or.
Could he get there in the next month?
If Mbappé is indeed that great, he’ll take what could be and change it into what is.
