France beat Senegal 3-1 at MetLife Stadium in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I, and Bayern forward Nicolas Jackson led the line for the Lions of Teranga. He started as the central striker, worked across the front, and came off in the 83rd minute for Ahmadou Bamba Dieng. Jackson finished with a Sofascore Rating of 5.9, on a scale where 10 is perfect, which reflects a night of effort with mixed end product. The heatmap shows activity mainly in central zones, with pockets of work near both channels. In front of 80,545 spectators, Senegal struggled to turn his movement into clear chances.

Jackson logged 32 touches and seven ball carries for a total carrying distance of 66.21 meters. One of those carries progressed play by 17.44 meters, his best of the match, while his overall progressive carrying distance reached 19.53 meters. He attempted 17 passes and completed 12 for 70.6% accuracy, a modest return for a lone striker under heavy pressure. The split shows 7 of 8 accurate in the opposition half and 5 of 9 in his own half, plus two accurate deliveries in the final third. He also tried one chipped pass that did not connect.

Shooting and chance quality

Jackson’s shot volume was low, with one attempt that went off target and one effort that struck the woodwork. The data marks one big chance missed, a key swing in a tight game state before France pulled away. His xG came in at 0.1289, all from inside the box, and he did not record a shot on target. Three offside calls further cut into his final-third output and stalled several Senegal breaks. He still produced two key passes and posted 0.0219 expected assists, a small creative lift on a tough night.

Shot value normalized landed at -0.2, which mirrors the missed opportunity and lack of accuracy. The finishing numbers underline how thin the margins were for Senegal’s striker. With France controlling long stretches, Jackson’s rare looks carried extra weight. The woodwork hit offered the closest thing to a breakthrough. Without more touches in prime areas, his chances to change the score were limited.

Ball security and link-up

The forward’s combination play flickered but did not fully stick. Jackson lost possession 11 times and was dispossessed on four occasions, with one heavy touch recorded. Pass value normalized came in at -0.14, showing that the completed passes did not often progress Senegal into premium spaces. Even so, those two key passes hint at moments where his choices did open the pitch.

On the dribble front, he did not register a successful take-on, though the dribble value normalized sat at a slight positive of 0.2, helped by forward carries. He drew no fouls and committed two, which also nudged the overall grade downward. The balance was better in small defensive moments, where Jackson put up two ball recoveries and two clearances. He also won his only tackle, a 100% success on one attempt. Those actions showed willing work when Senegal had to defend deep.

Duels tell the story

France’s center-backs and midfielders made the physical exchanges difficult. Jackson won only 2 of 14 total duels, a 14.3% success rate that affected Senegal’s ability to stick attacks. On the ground he took 1 of 9, and in the air he took 1 of 5, while one challenge ended in a loss. These numbers explain why Senegal could not build consistently through their No. 11 despite his movement.

The aerial figures also led to second balls falling France’s way. With limited hold-up play, Senegal’s wide runners had fewer chances to combine around the box. Add the three offsides and the attack often stalled before it could threaten. A better duel return would have improved field position and time in the final third. On this night, Jackson’s efforts came more in transition sprints than in secured platforms.

Sofascore Rating context and takeaways

A Sofascore Rating of 5.9 ties closely to the metrics above, especially the duel rates, the big chance missed, and the offside count. Positive notes include two key passes, a handful of progressive carries, two recoveries, two clearances, and one tackle won. Passing accuracy at 70.6% and a limited xG total show how often France pushed him away from high-value zones. With 32 touches across 83 minutes, volume also played a part.

For Senegal, the data suggests adjustments in timing runs and securing first contacts could lift the attack in Group I. Jackson’s heatmap and event timeline on Sofascore give a clear picture of where he was most involved and where support can arrive faster. Keep an eye on his off-ball movement, early link-ups, and duel outcomes in the next match. If those climb, the shooting volume and xG should follow. You can track every carry, key pass, and Sofascore Rating live on the Sofascore app and site.