The World Cup’s third‑place match in Miami turned into a goal‑fest, producing a record 10 goals and cementing England’s return to the podium for the first time since the 1990 and 2018 playoffs.
Kylian Mbappé’s two strikes not only powered France’s comeback attempt but also pushed the forward past Lionel Messi to become the all‑time leading scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals.
England’s Bukayo Saka delivered a dramatic hat‑trick, highlighted by a late penalty, while Jude Bellingham added his seventh tournament goal to lock down a 6‑4 victory.
The win marked a historic finish for England, securing third place for the first time since their previous playoff defeats in 1990 and 2018, and underscored a resurgence under recent tactical shifts.
Milestones and Records
Beyond the final score, the match set several statistical benchmarks: it produced the highest goal total ever recorded in a third‑place playoff and showcased a dramatic swing that saw France erase a 4‑0 deficit to come within striking distance of equality.
Coaches Didier Deschamps and Thomas Tuchel watched from the sidelines as emerging talents like Bradley Barcola and Harry Kane contributed to the high‑tempo contest, while Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa opened the scoring early for England.
The spectacle drew extensive coverage from news agencies, including Reuters, which documented the match’s unfolding narrative and its broader implications for international football.