If everything goes according to plan, Kylian Mbappé will be available on Friday for France’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan. The Real Madrid star forward then hopes to take another step toward Olivier Giroud’s record as all-time top scorer for Les Bleus, with 57 goals.
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Kylian Mbappé arrived at the French national team camp this week with slight ankle complaints, an issue he picked up during Real Madrid’s league match against Villarreal.
Although the injury raised some initial concerns, the 26-year-old forward has already reassured staff and teammates with his recovery progress. He trained separately from the squad on Wednesday, working with the medical and fitness coaches to manage his workload and avoid unnecessary risks. According to head coach Didier Deschamps, the plan is for Mbappé to rejoin the full group session on Thursday. If everything continues to go smoothly, the French captain could be fit enough to play in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan.
France will host Azerbaijan on Friday, October 10, 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45 local time. It will be the third qualifier of the campaign for Les Bleus, who are aiming to secure an early path toward the 2026 World Cup in North America. The Stade de France crowd will be eager not only for three points but also to see their talismanic striker continue his chase for national history.
Mbappé has started the season in electrifying form with Real Madrid, scoring 14 goals in his first 10 matches for the Spanish giants. His performances have instantly silenced any doubts about his adaptation to La Liga after his high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain. Beyond his club heroics, Mbappé has also been clinical in recent international duty, finding the net in both games against Ukraine and Iceland during the previous international window. That efficiency has brought him within touching distance of Olivier Giroud’s all-time scoring record for the French national team.
Giroud, who announced his international retirement earlier this year, closed his legendary France career with 57 goals in 129 appearances, leaving him at the top of the scoring charts. Mbappé, however, is rapidly closing in. With 52 goals already in 92 caps, he now sits just five behind Giroud and looks destined to claim the record sooner rather than later. The question is no longer whether Mbappé will become France’s top scorer, but when.
“I think I can catch him, but I don’t know when. Maybe tomorrow, who knows,” Mbappé joked with a smile in front of reporters this week. The statement reflects both his confidence and his awareness of the anticipation surrounding the milestone.
Realistically, surpassing Giroud on Friday would require an extraordinary performance against Azerbaijan. But few would rule out Mbappé, who has built a reputation for delivering on the biggest stages. Even if the record is not broken in this match, it is only a matter of time. “Maybe it will take a little longer, but this will happen naturally. And when it does, I’ll be happy, but then I’ll keep going,” said the striker, emphasizing his hunger and determination to continue pushing boundaries.
Mbappé’s rise has been nothing short of spectacular. At just 26, he has already overtaken Thierry Henry’s tally of 51 goals, a landmark he reached in September, further underlining his historic trajectory. Unlike many forwards whose international scoring records arrive late in their careers, Mbappé’s dominance is unfolding in what should still be the prime years of his journey. If his current scoring rate is maintained, he could set a benchmark for Les Bleus that may remain untouched for generations.
For Deschamps, the potential milestone adds another layer of motivation for Friday’s encounter, but the coach has insisted the team’s priority remains securing qualification points. France are overwhelming favorites against Azerbaijan, but complacency is not in Deschamps’ vocabulary. “It’s always important to stay focused, regardless of the opponent. Every match is an opportunity to improve and prepare for bigger challenges ahead,” he said earlier in the week.
As the Stade de France prepares for another memorable night under the floodlights, all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappé. Whether he scores once, twice, or not at all, the sense of inevitability around his pursuit of Giroud’s record gives this qualifier a narrative beyond the result. Each goal from here on carries historical weight, each celebration a step closer to the summit of French football’s scoring charts.
Updated: 02:57, 9 Oct 2025
