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The celebration photo that sums up my relationship with Mbappe - Giroud
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BBC Sport·about 16 hours ago

The celebration photo that sums up my relationship with Mbappe - Giroud

Published 53 minutes ago I texted Kylian Mbappe straight after France's win over Senegal when he broke my record to become the all-time record goalscorer for Les Bleus with 58 goals.

I wrote: 'Congrats bro, I am really happy for you. Well, I kept the record for three-and-a-half years, and it was great - but now it is yours, and you have to go again... oh, and bro, don't forget to save me your jersey!'.

We haven't caught up yet but I've spoken to one of the coaching staff and he said Kylian told him to tell me he got my text, and he will call me soon.

Kylian had already promised me he would give me the shirt he was wearing when he overtook my total, and I will be asking for it again when I speak to him.

Everyone always asks me what my relationship is like with him and, as I told Radio 5 Live this week, there is a fantastic photograph that sums it up perfectly.

This is the picture I was talking about. It was taken after I had broken Thierry Henry's record to become France's top scorer, against Poland at the 2022 World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images Kylian set up the goal - it was a great pass, the perfect assist. I ran towards the corner flag to celebrate and did a knee slide and then I turned around to find him jumping into my arms. I said to him 'you know how much I love you, bro'.

It was such a special moment for me. He was so happy for me, and I am just as happy that it was him who has beaten me.

Now I am between Kylian and Thierry on the list, so it is still not a bad place to be.

I think Kylian is misunderstood as a person sometimes, and he is seen as arrogant when he's not. That's why I want to say some positive words about him, because too many people who don't know him personally still judge him and think the other way.

He's always been someone who has had so much respect for former players and he has said some kind words for me since I stopped playing for France, about what I brought to the team. He understands that about all his team-mates, and when you get to know him like I did, you realise what he is really like as a person as well as a player.

Instead of arrogance, it's actually just confidence, and ambition, he shows when he talks. Even as a teenager when he came into the France squad, he always knew where he wanted to go.

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Some people have the wrong image of him because he is so comfortable speaking in front of the camera and to the media and he talks with freedom, and in a natural way.

But since day one when I first met him he has always been like that - very mature and at ease talking about his game and what he hopes to achieve.

Now he is the France captain, and a role model. He's a leader and I hope he will lead the team to our third star - our third World Cup win.

On the pitch, Kylian is very demanding with himself and on the team but that is the same about all big stars in every different sport. You need to be like that if you want to achieve great things - you need that kind of belief.

Mbappe starts the World Cup with two stylish goals

As well as being so confident, Kylian is selfish too - but that is not a criticism. The striker is always the most selfish player on the team - he has to be.

He showed that with his very first World Cup goal, against Peru in Yekaterinburg in our second group game at Russia 2018.

I had not started our first game, against Australia, because I'd been injured in a friendly against USA a week earlier and needed nine stitches in my forehead. It was a bad cut and I nearly missed the whole tournament.

Also, Didier Deschamps wanted to try Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Mbappe up front but it did not really work. He made some subs and I came on to make our winner for Paul Pogba with a deflected goal.

That meant Deschamps picked me against Peru, and I was desperate to score this time. Paul put me through and while my shot was blocked, it looped up over the keeper and was bouncing in... but then Kylian is there on the line to turn it in.

Afterwards I was asked if I was unhappy at him for 'stealing' my goal but my response then was the same as it is now - absolutely not. I would have done exactly the same - every striker would.

Eight years later, after scoring twice against Senegal on Tuesday, Kylian has 14 World Cup goals, only two behind Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi with the most of any player in the history of the tournament.

At 27, he has got at least one more World Cup in him, so he is going to beat that record too - or at least he will if Messi ever stops playing!

I hope Kylian breaks all the records in front of him, and he has time to do it - his next one for France is for most caps [he has 99, and Hugo Lloris has the most with 145] because he is a special player, and he deserves it.

When I think back to when I played with him, I smile. We shared some great moments together for France since 2017 when he first arrived on the national team.

We had a great understanding and our games complemented each other - his pace is devastating in a one-on-one but you always need support up front to play a one-two. I was the target man and we knew each other's qualities.

Now in this France team you can see the connection he has with Michael Olise, especially for our first goal against Senegal. There is much more of that to come from him in the next few weeks, and I can't wait to see it.

Olivier Giroud was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan

Olivier Giroud on Mbappe & winning the World Cup

Iliman Ndiaye: Senegal’s goal is to win World Cup 2026

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Sources: BBC Sport

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