Mbappé Magic: Star Striker Hits Milestone with 300th Goal in France's Record 14-0 Triumph

 In a dazzling display of football brilliance, Kylian Mbappé not only achieved a personal milestone but steered France to a historic 14-0 victory over Gibraltar on Saturday. As the captain of Didier Deschamps' side, Mbappé's record-breaking hat-trick in Nice propelled him to become the youngest player ever to reach 300 goals in Europe's top five leagues and international games combined, accomplishing this feat at the age of 24 years, 10 months, and 29 days.

"Some players scored 800, others 850, 300 next to it, it's ridiculous! It's a step for me and I want to continue to be decisive for my national team and my club," Mbappe said.

Amid the euphoria of his personal achievement, Mbappé humbly redirected the spotlight to the team's extraordinary accomplishment. The 14-0 win stands as the biggest victory in a European qualifier and France's largest-ever triumph, a momentous occasion etched in the annals of football history.

"We need to highlight the collective victory," Mbappe said.

"There have been a lot of talented France teams, to beat this record for the biggest win is something special. A team best is much more valuable than a personal best.

"The 300 goals scored in my career is a new milestone for me but it takes a back seat because the team put in an extraordinary performance today."

Mbappé's 300th goal was a testament to his ingenuity on the field. Picking up a pass from Youssouf Fofana, he executed a splendid lob from 40 meters out, capitalizing on the Gibraltar keeper's position, a detail he had astutely observed during the game.

"We wanted to go down in history and we did it collectively," Mbappe said.

"We had the objective of beating the record for the biggest win, the coach told us that there was something to go for, that's why we had this seriousness throughout the game."

The night unfolded as a showcase of France's ruthlessness, scoring seven goals in each half against a Gibraltar side that found themselves 3-0 behind and down to 10 men within 18 minutes. Mbappé's contribution extended beyond scoring, as he provided three assists, emphasizing his commitment to ensuring his teammates shared in the record win.

"The armband forces you to change, if you don't want to change, you're not cut out to be captain," Mbappe said.

"When I wasn't captain, I had a slightly more individualistic vision of my game, of my score. Now I'm captain and I have to think about others first and foremost."

Notably, Mbappé surpassed Antoine Griezmann, securing the third spot on France's all-time scorers list with 46 goals. With only five goals separating him from the legendary Thierry Henry in second place, Mbappé's ascent up the rankings adds another layer to his storied career.

Some information gotten from www.reuters.com and www.marca.com