Mbappe nets winner as France overcome dismissal to defeat Brazil

Kylian Mbappe edged closer to becoming France's all-time leading scorer by netting the opening goal in a 2-1 friendly win over Brazil at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, 2026, with the forward's chipped finish over goalkeeper Ederson giving France the lead just after the half-hour mark.

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France, the 2018 World Cup winners and 2022 runners-up, doubled their advantage through Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike on 65 minutes, despite having defender Dayot Upamecano sent off early in the second half, and ultimately held on for a confidence-boosting victory ahead of the World Cup.

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Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil pulled a goal back through Juventus defender Gleison Bremer's close-range finish 12 minutes from time, but the result will serve as a reminder of the high standards required against top-tier opposition, particularly with the World Cup looming.

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Mbappe's goal, his 56th in 95 appearances for France, leaves him just one goal shy of equalling the national record of 57 goals held by recently-retired Olivier Giroud, and he will have the opportunity to match or surpass that record when France face Colombia on Sunday.

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The match marked the first meeting between France and Brazil in 11 years, with their previous encounter being a friendly in Paris won 3-1 by Brazil, and it also marked a significant test for Ancelotti's side ahead of the World Cup, where they will face Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti in the group stage.

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Brazil were without several key players, including goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Eder Militao, midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, and forwards Rodrygo and Estevao, which may have contributed to their defeat, while France were missing Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.

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France's attack, which included Mbappe, Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, and Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, the reigning Ballon d'Or, proved too potent for Brazil, with Dembele releasing Mbappe for the opening goal, and Olise later supplying Ekitike for France's second goal.

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Upamecano's red card on 55 minutes, following a VAR review, prompted France to bring on Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix to bolster their defence, and they were able to withstand Brazil's late push, despite Bremer's goal on 78 minutes.

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Ancelotti will now look to regroup and prepare his team for their next friendly against Croatia in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, while France will face Senegal, Norway, and a play-off winner in the World Cup group stage, with their confidence boosted by this hard-fought win.