Mbappe not pressured over topping Platini's record for France

When France tackles the Republic of Ireland in a Euro 2024 qualifying match, the French captain will attempt to put aside any thoughts of matching France great Michel Platini's record for most goals scored internationally.

After scoring twice in Friday's convincing 4-0 victory over the Netherlands, the 24-year-old French attacker is ready to lead Didier Deschamps' team in Dublin on Monday. In a heartbreaking World Cup final loss to Argentina in December, Mbappe scored a hat-trick in addition to those goals.

Having recently been chosen the French team's captain, Mbappe has so far netted 38 goals for his country, just three fewer than playmaker Platini, but still far short of Olivier Giroud's 53-goal France record.

"For me, it's an honour to be at this stage," Mbappe told a pre-match press conference on Sunday. "That's my next target and I'll keep going. It might be tomorrow, it might not.

"Obviously Michel Platini is a legend of French football, but I'll get past that mark at some point."

Hugo Lloris was replaced as captain of France by Mbappe, who was named by coach Deschamps. Deschamps was convinced that Mbappe would put the requirements of the team before any personal objectives.

"That's Kylian, he's full of ambition, always setting himself new objectives, new goals," said Deschamps. "But the group, the collective, comes first. He's gone past people quickly, but his motivation is to keep going."

On Monday, the French team will face the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, and a victory would give them a second win in their group.