Bukayo Saka's Hat-Trick Inspires Three Lions to Bronze Medal as Kylian Mbappé Sets World Cup Scoring Record 
England secured third place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a thrilling 6-4 victory over France in one of the highest-scoring matches in tournament history, producing a remarkable 10-goal spectacle in Miami.
The Three Lions raced into a commanding 4-0 lead by half-time, stunning France with an attacking masterclass. Declan Rice opened the scoring before Ezri Konsa doubled England's advantage. Bukayo Saka then took centre stage, scoring twice before the interval to put Thomas Tuchel's side firmly in control.
France responded with determination after the break, launching an impressive comeback led by captain Kylian Mbappé. The forward scored twice to take his World Cup career tally to 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi to become the competition's all-time leading scorer. Despite Les Bleus narrowing the deficit, England continued to capitalize on their attacking opportunities.
Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to restore England's cushion before Jude Bellingham added a late goal to seal a memorable victory. Bellingham's strike was his seventh goal of the tournament, setting a new record for the most goals scored by an England player in a single FIFA World Cup.
The result handed England the bronze medal and their best World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966. It also provided a positive conclusion to Thomas Tuchel's first World Cup campaign after the disappointment of a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina.
For France, the defeat marked the end of an era as Didier Deschamps took charge of his final match after a long and successful tenure as national team coach. Although the French side fell short, Mbappé's record-breaking performance was one of the standout moments of the tournament.
The 6-4 scoreline set a new record for the highest-scoring FIFA World Cup third-place playoff, surpassing the previous mark established in 1958. The entertaining contest showcased attacking football from both teams and provided fans with one of the most memorable matches of the 2026 tournament.
England will now leave the World Cup with a podium finish and renewed optimism for the future, while France begin the search for a new manager as they look to rebuild ahead of the next major international competition.
video credit : supersport