Kylian Mbappé is a man of his word.
The France superstar delivered on a promise he made to television host James Corden during a recent appearance on FOX's After Hours with James Corden, unveiling a flute-themed goal celebration during France's opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As if that wasn't enough, the Real Madrid forward also made history by becoming France's all-time leading scorer.
The memorable moment traces back to a lighthearted conversation between Mbappé and Corden, where the pair discussed the forward's childhood. Mbappé revealed that his parents encouraged him to explore a variety of interests growing up, including learning to play the flute.
"My parents wanted me to do many things and explore many things," Mbappé explained during the segment, recalling how he picked up the instrument at around seven years old.
When Corden handed him a flute during the interview, however, Mbappé admitted those skills had long disappeared.
"I lost everything," he joked.
That's when Corden floated an idea that what if the flute became a goal celebration. Mbappé laughed and agreed, promising he'd use it during France's first World Cup match. On Tuesday, he followed through.
After breaking the deadlock against Senegal in the 65th minute, Mbappé sprinted toward the corner and appeared ready to perform his trademark crossed-arms pose. Instead, he stopped and mimicked playing an invisible flute, honoring the promise he made just days earlier.
The celebration immediately caught the attention of fans watching around the world, but Mbappé wasn't finished making headlines.
Later in the match, after Senegal pulled a goal back, the French captain delivered another moment of brilliance. Receiving space outside the penalty area, he curled a stunning strike into the top corner to seal a 3-1 victory for France and that goal carried historic significance.
Mbappé's second tally of the afternoon gave him 58 international goals, pushing him past former striker Olivier Giroud for the most goals ever scored for the French national team. The milestone adds another remarkable achievement to a career that has already included a World Cup title, multiple domestic championships, and countless individual honors.
The brace also moved Mbappé closer to another prestigious mark. He now sits just three goals away from surpassing Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup scoring record.
