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Kylian Mbappe says he is targeting Thierry Henry’s France goalscoring record after scoring twice in Tuesday’s 5-0 friendly thrashing of South Africa.
Mbappe was in fine form as the world champions dispatched the Bafana Bafana in Lille, bending home a superb opening goal on 23 minutes before winning and converting a 75th-minute penalty.
With his first goal of the contest, Mbappe became the first player to net in five successive France matches (a total of nine goals) since Karim Benzema did so between November 2013 and June 2014 (he posted seven strikes).
The 23-year-old also added an assist during a fantastic display, teeing up Matteo Guendouzi for his first France goal at the death, meaning he also became the first player in the 21st century to record an assist in five consecutive games for Les Blues.
Speaking to TF1 in the immediate aftermath of France’s dominant win, Mbappe, who remains 25 goals short of the Arsenal legend’s tally of 51 international strikes after his double, predicted he will draw level with Henry sooner than anticipated.
“Of course [the record is a target],” Mbappe said. “Of course, I’ve always wanted to be the first everywhere, in the French national team [as well] as in the club.
“There is still a long way to go. What Titi did, no one else has done. [But] I think I can get there much faster than you think.”
The pacey forward, who has been the subject of intense transfer speculation ahead of the expiration of his PSG contract this summer, also became the second-highest goalscorer in PSG history earlier this month, surpassing Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 156 goals for the club in a Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
On the international front, meanwhile, he is not the only striker within Didier Deschamps’ setup with Henry’s record in his sights.
Olivier Giroud’s first-half goal put Les Blues 2-0 up against South Africa, and the former Chelsea and Arsenal man is almost certain to beat Mbappe to the landmark, requiring just three more goals to draw level with Henry after his 48th France strike.
