Jude Bellingham’s late goal made him the first English player to reach seven in a single World Cup
as England beat France 6-4 in the third-place play-off.
The Real Madrid midfielder had been level on six with Gary Lineker — who reached that mark at Mexico ’86 — and teammate Harry Kane, who scored six in Russia 2018 and again at this tournament.
Bellingham, 23, came on in the 79th minute and struck with the final kick, leading a counter from halfway to the France box, skipping past a defender and finding the bottom corner.
“He has such confidence in his own ability,” former England midfielder Danny Murphy told BBC One during the match. “The patience, the skill, the shot. What a goal from England’s best player.”
Twelve minutes earlier he had looked set to take a penalty but instead handed the ball to Bukayo Saka who converted to seal his hat-trick.
After the match, Saka told BBC One: “No, Jude [Bellingham] was never taking it. He was the first one to say go and get your hat-trick, so none of them came to distract me. I was always going to take it.”