After a difficult first-half display, Didier Deschamps’ men found their rhythm after the break, with Mbappe breaking the deadlock in the 66th minute. The Real Madrid forward latched onto a superb pass from Michael Olise before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.
France tightened their grip on the contest late on when substitute Bradley Barcola doubled the advantage after being played through by Adrien Rabiot.
Senegal, however, refused to surrender and pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Ibrahim Mbaye, setting up a tense finish. Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished when Mbappe produced a stunning long-range strike in the 96th minute to seal the victory.
The brace was another milestone for the French captain, who became France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals. His World Cup tally also rose to 14 goals, moving him ahead of football greats Pele, Lionel Messi and Just Fontaine in the tournament’s scoring charts.
A tactical switch by Deschamps proved decisive. Michael Olise was moved into a more central attacking role after halftime and became the driving force behind France’s improved performance, creating several dangerous opportunities and providing the assist for Mbappe’s opener.
Despite the defeat, Senegal produced an impressive first-half display and came close to taking the lead on several occasions. Nicolas Jackson struck the post after breaking clear of the French defence, while Ismaila Sarr squandered a golden opportunity shortly before the interval.
France thought they had earned a penalty just after the hour mark when Mbappe went down under a challenge from Sadio Mane, but referee Alireza Faghani waved away the appeals following a review.
The decision ultimately had little effect on the outcome as France’s attacking quality eventually proved too much for the Lions of Teranga. Olise’s creativity unlocked the Senegalese defence before Barcola added a second, and although Mbaye briefly reduced the deficit, Mbappe ensured France finished the match in style.
The result gives France an ideal start to their World Cup campaign and strengthens their position in Group I ahead of upcoming matches against Iraq and Norway.
For Senegal, the scoreline was harsh on a side that competed strongly for long periods, but they were ultimately undone by the clinical finishing of Mbappe and the superior quality of the French attack.