France shook themselves awake after a sleepy first half on Tuesday to beat Senegal 3-1 in the New York/New Jersey Stadium for a perfect start to their World Cup campaign.
Inevitably, it was France captain Kylian Mbappe who broke the deadlock, unlocking the Senegalese defence in the 66th minute for a record-equalling 57th goal for his country.
Substitute Bradley Barcola added a second, and Mbappe broke Olivier Giroud's record with his 58th France goal, thanks to a scorching strike from outside the box deep into added time, seconds after Ibrahim Mbaye's consolation strike for Senegal.
Iraq play Norway in Boston in Group later on Tuesday.
Mbappe's double puts him ahead of Brazil's legend Pele and Argentina's Lionel Messi in the World Cup all-time top scorers list.
He is now tied with Gerd Muller, trailing only Brazil's Ronaldo (15) and Germany's Miroslav Klose (16).
Mbappe also set a French record with 58 international goals, one more than Olivier Giroud.
Trying to reach its third straight World Cup final, France plays Iraq on Monday in Philadelphia, then closes Group I on June 26 against Norway at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Senegal meets Norway on Monday at MetLife and finishes the first round against Iraq at Toronto.
