HIGHLIGHTS | FIFA World Cup 2026, Day 38: Saka’s hat-trick powers England past France in 10-goal thriller; Mbappe breaks all-time goal-scoring record

If Mbappe remains ahead of Messi after Argentina plays Spain in Sunday's final, he would become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice.

Summary

The third-place playoff saw England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic 10-goal thriller on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer.

Bukayo Saka grabbed a hat-trick, and Jude Bellingham became the first English player to score seven goals at a single World Cup in a breathless match.

Deschamps set for bittersweet ending to France reign as Zidane waits

Didier Deschamps brings the curtain down on a remarkable 14-year reign as France coach on Saturday when Les Bleus face England in the World Cup third-place play-off.

Waiting in the wings is Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps' former teammate and one of the all-time great French players.

Deschamps, 57, had been determined to sign off by leading Les Bleus to a third World Cup triumph after a glittering career as a player and coach.

France justified their billing as favourites for the 2026 tournament with a series of swaggering attacking displays but came unstuck against Spain in the semi-finals.

The painful 2-0 reverse in Arlington, Texas, denied them the chance to reach a third consecutive World Cup final and leaves them chasing bronze.

"I had the privilege of experiencing moments that were magical, and others that were difficult," he said on the eve of the game.

"But life goes on. I'm a positive person, and I know things will be good, too. It's the best thing that ever happened to me."

Les Bleus sont de retour sur le terrain pour préparer la "Petite finale" de la Coupe du Monde contre l'Angleterre samedi à Miami 👊 pic.twitter.com/stCRF3D0Jo

— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) July 16, 2026

England carry 'scars' of World Cup exit, says Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel said Friday that England's players carry the "scars" of a painful World Cup exit, admitting there was still a gap to close to the top nations.

The England boss has been heavily criticised for his defensive substitutions in a 2-1 semi-final defeat by Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Anthony Gordon put England on track to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 but late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez turned the match around.

Tuchel was repeatedly grilled over his tactics during the Argentina game at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"I tried to help, I tried to support," said the German, taking charge of his first major tournament with England.

"I took a decision, I took several decisions, trusting my instinct, my intuition, my experience, trusting my competitiveness and I took the decision in order to help the team and get the result.

"We didn't get the result, so I take, of course, the responsibility for these decisions. But the decisions are made under stress, the decisions are made in-game."

Putting in the prep for our final challenge 👊 pic.twitter.com/SZ4ogNm2o7

— England (@England) July 17, 2026

England edge France 6-4 in chaotic World Cup bronze match

England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe became the leading scorer in World Cup history.

Bukayo Saka grabbed a hat-trick and Jude Bellingham became the first English player to score seven goals at a single World Cup in a breathless match.

But despite the entertainment, both sides will go home disappointed after their title hopes disappeared at the semi-final stage.

France were outplayed by Spain while England suffered a late collapse against Argentina.

Arsenal forward Saka said beating Didier Deschamps' France was an "amazing" result but admitted the defeat to Argentina "hurt a lot".

"When you lose there's always going to be noise, when you win there's going to be noise," Saka said.

"It's how you react to it, how you use it as fuel and today we finished strong so that's all we could really do and we've done it."

Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi for career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals

Kylian Mbappé made history at the World Cup on Saturday. He would have preferred a different outcome.

The France star moved past Argentina's Lionel Messi for the career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals, scoring twice in a 6-4 loss to England in Saturday's third-place match.

Mbappé finished this World Cup with 10 goals, two more than Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the tournament's top scorer. Should he remain ahead of Messi after Argentina plays Spain in Sunday's final, he would become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice.

“I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history,” Mbappé told Fox Sports in French, “and play in the match tomorrow.”

Les Bleus missed out on a chance at playing in their third straight World Cup final when they lost to Spain in the semifinals.

Mbappé scored eight goals to win the Golden Boot four years ago in Qatar, where France lost to Messi and Argentina in a penalty shootout in the final.

His 10 in this year’s tournament matched the third most in a World Cup. Just Fontaine had a record 13 goals for France in 1958, Sandor Kocsis of Hungary scored 11 in 1954, and West Germany’s Gerd Müller had 10 in 1970.

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring their third goal during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Photo | AP)

Kylian Mbappé is the top goalscorer in @FIFAWorldCup history! 👏⭐️ pic.twitter.com/9VfkLCTUXx

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 19, 2026

More history 👏

Jude Bellingham's seven goals at this tournament makes him the highest scoring #ThreeLions player in a single @FIFAWorldCup campaign! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/34feZsShRo

— England (@England) July 18, 2026