Kylian Mbappe moved within one goal of equalling France’s all-time scoring record with the opener in a 2-1 win over Brazil in a glamour friendly in the United States on Thursday.

Mbappe ran through to beat Ederson with a delicate chip to give France the lead just after the half-hour mark at Gillette Stadium near Boston, home of NFL side New England Patriots.

France, World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, had Dayot Upamecano sent off early in the second half but shrugged it off to double the lead through Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike in the 65th minute.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil pulled one back 12 minutes from time via a close-range finish by Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, but France held on for a victory that will boost confidence ahead of the World Cup. They face Senegal, Norway and a play-off winner in the group stage.

Mbappe’s goal will please coach Didier Deschamps. The Real Madrid forward returned from three weeks out with a knee injury just ahead of the international break.

The 27-year-old now has 56 goals in 95 appearances for France, leaving him one shy of Olivier Giroud’s record of 57. Mbappe can equal and potentially surpass it when France face Colombia in the second friendly of this tour at Northwest Stadium near Washington DC on Sunday.

France and Brazil have met four times at past World Cups, including the 1998 final won by France and the 2006 quarter-final, also won by Les Bleus. This was their first meeting of any kind since a friendly in Paris 11 years ago, won 3-1 by Brazil.

Brazil go into the World Cup, where they face Morocco, Scotland and Haiti in the group stage, hoping the appointment of Ancelotti as coach can help them contend for a record-extending sixth title.

Brazil were missing key players, including goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Eder Militao, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and forwards Rodrygo and Estevao. France were without Arsenal centre-back William Saliba but fielded a potent attack including Mbappe, Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and PSG’s Ousmane Dembele.

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Dembele set up Mbappe for the opener, which separated the teams at half-time. Upamecano was sent off in the 55th minute after American referee Guido Gonzales upgraded a yellow card to red following a VAR review. He had denied Wesley a clear goal-scoring opportunity on the edge of the box.

Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, a late call-up to replace Saliba, came on for Dembele to make his debut and bolster the defence. France extended their lead when Olise supplied Ekitike, who clipped the ball past Ederson for his second international goal.

Mbappe and Ekitike were then withdrawn, leaving Brazil with too much to do. Bremer converted from close range after Luiz Henrique’s assist in the 78th minute, but France held on.

Ancelotti will hope his team can bounce back when they face Croatia in Orlando on Tuesday.

Published on Mar 27, 2026