Kylian Mbappé reminded the Brazilian national team that it is far from the group of favorites for the World Cup. The Real Madrid striker scored and France beat Carlo Ancelotti’s team 1-2 on Thursday in a friendly played in the United States.
The No. 10 had already announced that he was fully recovered from his knee injury and on Thursday he was the best player on the pitch at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston.
Friendly match France vs Brazil
Mbappé is back.
And there are some who believe we will be better off without him.
No man, no. The best are on the field and Kylian is one of them. pic.twitter.com/vgwKzvRp27
– Alexis Rodriguez (@Alexis_RH_) March 26, 2026
He broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with a masterful finish, flicking the ball past Ederson’s half-exit, taking advantage of a pass into space from Dembélé.
Brazil threw the first half away and only woke up in the second half, playing with an extra man after Upamecano was sent off for bringing down Wesley when he was alone in the French area. They did not take advantage of it.
Even when trailing, Les Bleus scored again through Ekitiké in the 65th minute.
Bremer pulled one back for the Canarinha with 15 minutes remaining when he finished off a loose ball inside the box.
To make matters worse, Raphinha pulled out with muscle discomfort at halftime.
Fear or respect?
Allez les Bleus 🇫🇷💙 #BREFRA pic.twitter.com/uQwYhUuOEP
– Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance). March 26, 2026
The match started with a lot of respect from both teams.
No one wanted to take a tumble 77 days before the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Brazil, crouched down with an unprecedented defense, wanted to counterattack.
France, without stepping on the gas, felt comfortable with possession.
However, the first warning came from Raphinha.
The Barcelona striker tried to surprise with runs into space between the central defenders.
Vinícius Júnior also made a run down the left, where he was held by Malo Gusto.
The problem is that no one really troubled Maignan in the first round, apart from two long-range shots from Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli.
Mbappé’s 56th goal for his national team
NAAAA, WHAT A GREAT GOAL BY MBAPPÉ 🥵.
Dembélé’s pass for Kylian to finish past the keeper.
📺 LIVE x ESPN and #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/71NnMr6dpB
– ESPN.com.mx (@ESPNmx) March 26, 2026
France moved their pieces with ease and Brazil lost sight of Mbappé, who won the duel with his Real Madrid teammate Vini Júnior, who was willing to press, but not very accurate in dribbling.
Tchouaméni’s robbery of Casemiro led to the Roosters’ goal.
Dembélé quickly spotted Mbappé’s unmarked run, who finished expertly over the top for his 56th goal for his country.
Bondy’s striker came close to scoring his second before the break with a shot that went just wide of the post.
Ancelotti’s team felt the blow and became unhinged with the referee.
The Italian coach also lost Raphinha to injury and had to replace him at halftime, bringing on Luiz Henrique.
The ‘Verdeamarelos’, however, took a step forward, thanks to the audacity of the Zenit winger, fresh off the bench, who tested Maignan with almost his first action.
Upamecano’s sending-off, ordered by the VAR, at the start of the second half turned the tide, but only for a few minutes.
Deschamps sacrificed Dembélé, the current Ballon d’Or winner, to bring in a defender.
Brazilians go over the top, but it’s not enough for them
Vini is a crack but still not enough to be the 10 of Brazil, he is on his way to that.
Case similar to Dembelé and Mbappé, one won the BdO but the face of the national team is Kylian.
Ancelotti knows and bets on Vini.
For me he is wrong, Neymar knows what it is to take charge of the team. https://t.co/OGwp0BjAM7– Sensei Clossed ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@ClossMoments) March 27, 2026
Whether he wanted to or not, the change of parts worked out well.
With the Brazilians on top, Olise led a counter-attack that was finished off by Ekitiké.
Too easy for the Russia 2018 champions and Qatar 2022 finalists.
With the score at 0-2, the French coach reserved Mbappé, with an eye on the upcoming friendly against Colombia.
Carletto also promoted a carousel of changes in search of a reaction that came in the 77th minute with Bremer’s desperate strike, his first goal for the senior team.
Brazil came forward with more heart than head.
Vini came close to equalizing, but France held on.
Ancelotti has a lot of work ahead of him until the World Cup.
The next test, on Tuesday, against Croatia.
Technical data
🔥 VICTOIRE 2️⃣-1️⃣ !
Nos Bleus s’offrent le Brésil dans cette affiche de prestige 🙌 #BREFRA pic.twitter.com/2R6bM9Ssuz
– Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 26, 2026
1. Brazil: Ederson; Wesley (m.70 Ibáñez), Léo Pereira, Bremer, Douglas Santos; Casemiro (m.84 Gabriel Sara), Andrey Santos (m.70 Danilo Santos); Raphinha (m.46 Luiz Henrique), Gabriel Martinelli (m.62 João Pedro), Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha (m.70 Igor Thiago).
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.
France: Mike Maignan; Theo Hernandez, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté, Malo Gusto (m.91 Kalulu); Aurélien Tchouaméni (m.57 Kanté), Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise (m.91 Akliouche), Ousmane Dembélé (m.56 Lacroix), Kylian Mbappé (m.66 Thuram) and Hugo Ekitiké (m.66 Doué).
Coach: Didier Deschamps.
Goals: 0-1, minute 31: Mbappé. 0-2, minute 65: Ekitiké. 1-2, minute 77: Bremer.
Referee: American Guido Gonzales sent off Upamecano (55th minute) with a straight red card and cautioned Léo Pereira, Casemiro, Konaté, Ibáñez, Bremer, Kalulu and Maignan.
Incidents: friendly match in preparation for the 2026 World Cup played at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, near Boston (United States). Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum participated in the pitch draw before the start of the match.
Filed under: Friendly France vs Brazil
With information from EFE