Kylian Mbappé addressed expectations following his two-goal display for France. "I don't think we're fully engaged yet. But it's always good to start a tournament with a win," he told RMC Sport. "That gives some peace of mind. Although at a World Cup, you never truly feel comfortable."
When asked about responding to criticism, Mbappé reframed his approach. "There's no point in revenge. If I started playing to silence everyone who criticizes me, I would have to play until I'm 80 years old. I play to enter my country's history and help my team win the World Cup," he stated.
Mbappé highlighted France's attacking potential. "We know we can score at any moment, and that helps," he said. "This is just the first match of the group stage. People should enjoy themselves, criticize if they want. We must always stay calm about what we need to do."
His two goals against Senegal bring his World Cup tally to 14, one shy of Miroslav Klose's all-time record. Mbappé's emphasis on legacy and team objectives suggests his focus extends beyond individual records. France face Iraq on 23 June and Norway on 26 June in their remaining group matches.