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FIFA World Cup 2026: It was a feast of goals as England downed France 6-4 to take the third spot
England: Rice (3), Konsa (18), Saka (37, 45+1, pen 87), Bellingham (90+8); France: Mbappé (48, 66), Barcola (54), Dembélé (90+6).
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Sun, 19, Jul 2026
- 02:16 EDT
- 61
FIFA : England / FIFA : England
The losing semi-finalists' encounter with the FIFA World Cup 2026 witnessed a feast of goals, with Bukayo Saka (England) completing a hat-trick of goals while Kylian Mbappé strengthened his claim on the golden boot by scoring twice against England in one of the highest-scoring games of the World Cup finals.
Interestingly, after losing to Argentina 1-2 after taking the lead, England started its bronze medal game without skipper Harry Kane and star striker Bellingham. And when Bellingham was brought back as a substitute late in the second half, he justified his substitution with a brilliant goal in the dying moments of the game to put the issue beyond the reach of France as Mbappe and his team staged an excellent comeback to reduce the margin from 0-4 to 3-5 before ultimately losing 4-6.
Also read: India honors retiring England duo with signed jerseys
Kylian Mbappe took his personal tally to 10 goals, two more than Lionel Messi of Argentina. Lionel Messi, however, has a match in hand – the final against Spain to equal or surpass Kylian Mbappé's tally.
At the end of his engagements in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Kylian Mbappé holds the record for the most goals in FIFA World Cup history, with 22 career goals across three tournaments (2018, 2022, and 2026). He achieved the milestone during France's third-place match against England, where he netted a brace to surpass Lionel Messi.
Mbappé's all-time World Cup goals breakdown includes four goals in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where France lifted the trophy; eight goals in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot; and 10 goals in the 2026 World Cup in the Americas, where France finished fourth. He scored a brace in the last game against England to pass Lionel Messi (eight) for most goals in FIFA World Cup history:
Incidentally, the hard-fought cup match turned out to be a game of two halves. England overcame France in the ultimate game for the bronze medal as Bukayo Saka hit a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham finally put an end to a comeback Kylian Mbappe had heroically inspired at Miami Stadium.
It started raining goals immediately after the kick-off. England annihilated France in the first half. Declan Rice stylishly struck home the opener from outside the box in the third minute. Declan Rice required only 134 seconds to score England’s second-fastest goal in the World Cup. Fellow midfielder Bryan Robson netted after 28 seconds – coincidentally against France – in 1982.
Shortly afterwards, Bukayo Saka had a goal ruled out for offside. Ezri Konsa made it two-nil even before the teams broke for the hydration break. Saka then bagged a quick-fire brace to send Thomas Tuchel’s team in 4-0 up at the interval.
France's biggest World Cup defeat – when it effectively operated with 10 men in a 5-2 loss to Brazil in 1958 – appeared under severe threat. It, however, staged a tremendous fightback to come out swinging.
Michael Olise’s pass enabled Kylian Mbappé to get the runners-up of the last edition on the board, and the Real Madrid forward set up Bradley Barcola to further decrease the deficit.
Mbappe then pulled France within one before Olise came narrowly close to scoring a breathtaking team move. England were under extreme pressure. It was at this stage that Saka sealed the deal with a penalty after Malo Gusto had tripped Djed Spence. Teams were 5-3 after Bukayo Saka completed his hat-trick.
Michael Olise took his assists’ tally at these global finals to seven. It is the most ever registered – records began in 1966 – in a World Cup, with Pele providing six for Brazil in 1970.
Kylian Mbappe has hit 10 goals in eight outings in North America. The only men with more in a World Cup are Sándor Kocsis with 11 for Hungary in 1954 and Just Fontaine with 13 for France in 1958.
Bukayo Saka (England) was named Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
It was England’s best finish at the global finals since they triumphed on home soil in 1966 and brought to an end Didier Deschamps’ successful reign as France coach.
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