Bellingham breaks England World Cup record in 6-4 third-place win

Jude Bellingham became the first Englishman to score seven goals at a single World Cup, finding the net with the final kick of England's 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off.

The Real Madrid midfielder, 23, was introduced as a 79th-minute substitute and had to wait until the closing moments for his moment. Collecting the ball around the halfway line, he carried it into the France box, beat a defender and slotted low into the bottom corner as the match ended.

The goal moved Bellingham clear of two names he had been level with going into the game: Gary Lineker, who scored six at Mexico 1986, and England team-mate Harry Kane, who struck six at Russia 2018 and had matched that tally again at this tournament.

Saka's hat-trick from the spot

Bellingham's contribution might have come earlier from the penalty spot. Twelve minutes before his goal he appeared set to take a spot-kick, but instead handed the ball to Bukayo Saka, who converted to complete his hat-trick.

Saka said afterwards that Bellingham had never intended to take the kick. "He was the first one to say go and get your hat-trick, so none of them came to distract me," he told BBC One. "I was always going to take it."

• Bellingham scored England's final goal in a 6-4 win over France in the third-place play-off
• His seventh goal of the tournament set a new English record at a single World Cup
• Gary Lineker scored six at Mexico 1986 and Harry Kane six at Russia 2018 and at this tournament
• Bukayo Saka converted a penalty to seal his hat-trick after Bellingham handed him the ball
• Bellingham, 23, had come on in the 79th minute

England's campaign therefore ends with third place rather than a final, but with a record for their most influential midfielder. Bellingham's tally now stands alone in the national team's World Cup history, and at 23 he has time on his side should he feature at future tournaments.