The third‑place match in the United States turned into a goal‑fest, as England and France combined for ten strikes before the final whistle. England’s early dominance set the tone, but France’s resilience kept the contest alive until the dying minutes.
Mbappé’s record‑breaking night
Kylian Mbappé finished the tournament with 22 goals, edging past Lionel Messi in the all‑time World Cup scoring charts and extending his lead in the Golden Boot race. His two goals came either side of Bradley Barcola’s strike, underscoring his relentless impact.
Deschamps’ final chapter
Didier Deschamps coached his last game after 14 years at the helm, bringing an end to a tenure that spanned 185 matches. The veteran manager made tactical changes, introducing Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Digne to shore up a shaky defence.
England opened the scoring in the first half through Declan Rice, then doubled the lead when Ezri Konsa found the net. Bukayo Saka added a quick brace, and later completed his hat‑trick with an 87th‑minute penalty, sealing a 6‑4 victory.
Second‑half drama and historic milestones
Bradley Barcola’s goal brought France back into contention, but Ousmane Dembele’s sixth‑minute stoppage‑time strike restored the lead for the visitors. Jude Bellingham capped the night with a sixth English goal, while Michael Olise set up a record‑breaking seven assists, surpassing Pele’s 1970 tally.
The match was covered by Reuters, among other outlets, and sparked discussion in cities such as Miami and New York, where the story trended across sports channels.