Eugenie Le Sommer scored twice in five minutes in a European Championship qualifier away to North Macedonia on Tuesday to first equal and then break the international scoring record for a French woman.

The 31-year-old Lyon player struck after 15 minutes from a free-kick to match Marinette Pichon, who scored 81 goals for France between 1994 and 2006.

Le Sommer, the France captain, then converted a penalty to take sole possession of the record.

It had been a long wait for Le Sommer who had been stuck on 80 since October 2019. When she scored the second she was engulfed by joyous team-mates.

"She (Pichon) was a super player and I know what it represents to beat this record," said Le Sommer.

France went on to win 7-0 behind closed doors in Skopje.

Le Sommer, who was winning her 172nd cap, remains a long way behind the top scorer in women's international football -- Christine Sinclair has 186 goals in 296 appearances for Canada.

She is, however, well ahead of the French men's record holder, Thierry Henry, who scored 51 goals in 123 appearances.