France at FIFA World Cup 2022: Stats and records

It has already been a record-breaking outing for France's national football team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

AC Milan forward Olivier Giroud made history for 'Les Bleus' when he became his country's all-time leading goalscorer in France's 3-1 round-of-16 win over Poland on Sunday (4 December).

He scored the opener for his 52nd goal for France, to go one more than Thierry Henry. It was a record he then extended with another goal in France's 2-1 quarter-final win over England.

With superstar forward Kylian Mbappe also lighting up the Qatari stadia, the facts, statistics and figures being written by the French team make for some impressive reading.

Read on to find out which records have already been broken, which are just shy of being rewritten and the numbers that you need to know as the competition heats up.

Hugo Lloris breaks Lillian Thuram's caps record

In leading France to victory against Poland, captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris moved level with Lillian Thuram as France's most-capped men's player (142), before he passed him in the quarter-finals against England.

Henry and Fabien Barthez shared the French record for most World Cup appearances with 17 before this tournament, but Barthez also overtook them against England.

In the semi-final victory over Morocco, he took his respective tallies to 144 and 19.

The Spurs goalkeeper made his senior debut for France in 2008 and was named captain in 2012.

Kylian Mbappe: France's record-breaking, history-making goal-scoring machine

Kylian Mbappe's goal-scoring exploits have become the topic of hot conversation in Qatar, not least because they have seen him match some of the greats of the game.

The 23-year-old scored his fifth goal of FIFA World Cup 2022 against Poland.

The only players with more goals at a single men's World Cup before turning 24 were Brazil's Pele, Mario Kempes of Argentina and Colombia's James Rodriguez who all netted six.

Mbappe has now scored nine World Cup goals in 15 appearances, one more than Pele who previously held the record for most goals in the men's competition before turning 24.

With that number the Frenchman has now surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo, who has eight World Cup goals to his name with Lionel Messi - currently sharing the lead with Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot - up to 11 goals.

Steve Mandanda: oldest ever player to represent the French national football team

At 37 years and 247 days old, French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda became the oldest player in history to represent France when he started for Les Bleus against Tunisia on Wednesday 30 November.

Axel Disasi: first outfield player to win his first French cap in a World Cup game since 1966

After having already secured his side passage to the round of 16, French coach Didier Deschamps rolled the dice for Les Bleus' final group game against Tunisia.

With his nine changes Deschamps handed 24-year-old Axel Disasi his first ever senior national cap and in doing so, the Monaco player became the first outfield player to win his first French cap in a World Cup game since 1966.

Also in that game, when William Saliba came off the bench he became the 24th member of the France squad to play in Qatar which is a new men's World Cup record for a single tournament.

Didier Deschamps: Fourth manager ever to lead a country to back-to-back finals

When France booked thier place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final following their 2-0 victory over Morocco coach Didier Deschamps became only the fourth manager in history to lead a side to consecutive World Cup finals.

He follows in the footsteps of Vittorio Pozzo who achieved the feat with Italy (1934 and 1938), Carlos Bilardo with Argentina (1986 and 1990) and Franz Beckenbauer with Germany (1986 and 1990). 

Should France win the final against Argentina, Deschamps could become the second coach ever to defend a world title after Pozzo. 

Deschamps is also one of three men to have won the World Cup as a player and as a coach. He joined that elite club, featuring Mario Zagallo and Beckenbauer when Les Bleus won the World Cup trophy back in 2018.

France FIFA World Cup 2022 stats

• Matches played - 6
• Red cards - 0
• Yellow cards - 5
• Goals - 13
• Goals condeded - 5
• Clean sheets - 1
• Attempts at goal - 90
• Attempts at goal on target - 26
• Most goals - Kylian Mbappe (5)
• Most attempts at goal - Kylian Mbappe (20)
• Most assists - Kylian Mbappe (2)
• Most passes - Aurelien Tchouameni (362)
• Most crosses - Antoine Griezmann (33)

France at FIFA World Cup 2022: Schedule

Deschamps and his men have just one step remaining in their bid to retain their World Cup crown in Qatar.

The face Argentina on Sunday 18 December at 15:00 GMT (16:00 CET, 18:00 local time).