Winning start! Hugo Ekitike scores his first goal for France

It was a hugely successful evening for Les Bleus.

Details: In yesterday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match between France and Ukraine, the home side not only secured a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup, but also achieved a number of other milestones.

Alongside Mbappé’s 400th career goal and equaling a 34-year-old record for consecutive games scored, 23-year-old Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike also made his mark, netting his first official goal for the French national team.

Ekitike struck in the 88th minute after a pass from Mbappé, making the score a resounding 4-0.

This was Ekitike’s fifth appearance for Les Bleus, but he had not found the net in previous matches.

So far this season, Ekitike has played 16 matches for Liverpool across all competitions, scoring 6 goals and providing one assist.

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