Philadelphia, 22 June (H.S.):

France captain Kylian Mbappe is set to make his 100th international appearance on Monday when Les Bleus face Iraq in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I fixture. Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Philadelphia, Mbappe described the milestone as a very special moment in his career.

Mbappe said representing his country has always been a matter of immense pride, and reaching the landmark of 100 international appearances on the World Cup stage makes the achievement even more memorable.

He added that reaching the century mark is a historic milestone for any footballer, and accomplishing it during the FIFA World Cup would make the occasion particularly significant.

The 27-year-old will become the 10th player to reach 100 international appearances for France. However, he still trails former captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who holds the national record with 145 caps.

Mbappe recently became France's all-time leading goalscorer after scoring twice against Senegal. He now has 58 international goals, surpassing the previous record held by Olivier Giroud.

The French captain said that team success remains far more important to him than individual milestones. He stressed that a victory over Iraq would move France closer to qualification for the next stage, which remains the team's primary objective.

Speaking about the World Cup, Mbappe said he hopes to be remembered in French football history and believes the tournament is the greatest stage for any player to showcase his abilities.

Asked about the record for the most goals scored in World Cup history, Mbappe said he would continue striving to score regularly, but emphasised that his foremost goal is to help France progress as far as possible in the tournament.

Reflecting on the World Cup experience in the United States, Mbappe said he has enjoyed the atmosphere and is making the most of the opportunity.

When asked whether he could still be playing in the World Cup at the age of 40, Mbappe responded light-heartedly, saying he does not see himself in that situation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar