France vs Senegal player rating: Mbappe shines in 2026 World Cup opening game with 9/10

France opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-1 win over Senegal.

Kylian Mbappe gave his team an enjoyable start to the tournament with two goals. The team will be hoping to take advantage of this experience and advance to the end this time as well.

France looked quite shaky in the first half, struggling to cope with Senegal’s pace and directness in transition. However, in the second half, they took control and completely outplayed their opponents.

France won the World Cup in 2018 and finished as runners-up in 2022. Coach Didier Deschamps had a lot to be positive about after watching his team’s game tonight, and will be hoping that his team can go all the way.

here catch off sideLet’s take a look at how the French players fared in the tricky match against Senegal.

Mike Maignan – 6/10

The goalkeeper could do little for most of the match, but he should have done better on Senegal’s late goal. His placement was neat and he looked calm whenever called for action.

Jules Kunde – 6.5/10

Kounde provided energy from the right flank and was generally reliable defensively. They struggled at times with Senegal’s pace, but recovered well and helped France maintain their form in a difficult first half.

Dayo Upamecano – 7/10

Bayern Munich’s defender looked stable throughout. He looked dominant in the air, but was exposed at times during Senegal’s speedy attacks. Once France took the lead, they improved significantly after the break.

William Saliba – 6.5/10

Saliba’s composure on the ball helped France play from the back under pressure. Senegal’s attackers caused occasional problems, but Arsenal’s defenders kept their cool and produced a subdued but solid performance.

Theo Hernandez – 6.5/10

One of France’s most adventurous defenders, Hernandez was always looking to push forward and stretch Senegal’s final line. Although he was occasionally tested defensively, he was an active contributor in possession.

Aurelien Choameny – 7/10

France struggled to take the initiative in the early stages, but Choameni grew to integrate into the game. His ball-winning ability and positional discipline became increasingly important as Senegal began to tire and France began to dictate the tempo.

Adrian Rabiot – 6.5/10

Rabiot worked hard in midfield and helped France regain authority after a difficult opening game. Although he was not particularly influential in the final third, his experience and physical presence proved valuable. It also produced Bradley Barcola’s second goal of the game.

Michael Orise – 8.5/10

The creative heartbeat of the French attack. It was a moment of real quality as Oliseh’s vision and passing repeatedly cut open the Senegalese defense and he assisted Kylian Mbappé’s opening goal. Whenever France made threats, he also got involved.

Ousmane Dembele – 7/10

Dembele always posed a threat with his pace and direct running. His final ball was shaky at times, but he stretched Senegal’s defense throughout the match and created space for his teammates.

Desire Do – 6/10

He worked hard and contributed to maintaining the attacking pressure on France. However, they lacked quality at the end and never really threatened Senegal with their talent or scoring ability.

Kylian Mbappé – 9/10

People who make a difference. Mbappe was relatively quiet at times during the match, but once again proved why he is one of the world’s elite players. Two clinical goals decided the contest and allowed France to start their World Cup campaign with maximum points.

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Bradley Barcola – 8/10

Barcola brought energy, urgency and cutting edge to the French attack. His goal effectively ended Senegal’s hopes of a comeback and capped off a great match. The young winger made a big impact every time he got on the ball.

Rayan Cherki – 6.5/10

He added fresh legs to the midfield and helped France finish the game comfortably. He looked lively after his introduction, but didn’t have enough time to make much of an impact on the contest.