England Secures Third Place in FIFA World Cup 2026 with Bellingham's Record-Breaking Performance

England achieved a remarkable third-place finish in the FIFA World Cup 2026, defeating France 6-4. Bukayo Saka's hat-trick and Jude Bellingham's record-breaking seventh goal highlighted the match. Bellingham's performance set a new record for the most goals scored by a midfielder in a single World Cup, surpassing James Rodríguez. This victory marks England's best World Cup performance since their 1966 win, with both Bellingham and Harry Kane scoring six goals each, a first for players from the same country in a single tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 19, 2026, 06:31 IST

England Triumphs in FIFA World Cup 2026

In a thrilling conclusion to the FIFA World Cup 2026, England clinched third place by defeating France 6-4 in an exhilarating match. Bukayo Saka was the standout performer, netting a hat-trick, while Jude Bellingham made a significant impact despite coming off the bench for the last 16 minutes. In the dying moments of the game, Bellingham scored a goal, marking a remarkable World Cup journey for him. This goal set a new record, as it was his seventh in the tournament, making him the highest-scoring midfielder in a single FIFA World Cup campaign, surpassing Colombia's James Rodríguez, who had six goals in 2014.

Top Midfielders by Goals in a Single FIFA World Cup

Player	Country	Goals	Year
Jude Bellingham	England	7	2026
James Rodríguez	Colombia	6	2014
Diego Maradona	Argentina	5	1986
Teófilo Cubillas	Peru	5	1970 / 1978
Wesley Sneijder	Netherlands	5	2010

Bellingham Sets New England Record

Jude Bellingham's impressive tally of seven goals has now made him the highest scorer for England in a single FIFA World Cup campaign, breaking the previous record held by Harry Kane (2018, 2026) and Gary Lineker (1990), both of whom scored six goals.

England's Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup History

Player	Goals	Year
Jude Bellingham	7	2026
Harry Kane	6	2026
Harry Kane	6	2018
Gary Lineker	6	1986
Geoff Hurst	4	1966

Notably, Harry Kane also scored six goals during the FIFA World Cup 2026, making them the first duo from the same nation to achieve this feat in a single tournament. England's third-place finish marks their best performance in the World Cup since they won the trophy in 1966.