Jude Bellingham became England’s highest scorer in a single FIFA World Cup campaign after netting his seventh goal in the dramatic 6-4 victory over France.
Jude Bellingham etched his name into England’s history books after becoming the nation’s highest scorer in a single FIFA World Cup campaign. The Real Madrid midfielder reached the landmark during England’s thrilling 6-4 victory over France in the third-place playoff.
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Thomas Tuchel’s side responded brilliantly after the disappointment of their semi-final exit, producing one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament. The ten-goal spectacle was the highest-scoring World Cup game since Hungary defeated El Salvador 10-1 at the 1982 tournament.
With France threatening another comeback after Ousmane Dembele reduced the deficit to 5-4 late in the contest, Bellingham produced the decisive moment. The England star surged forward before calmly finding the net to restore his side’s two-goal advantage.
That strike took Bellingham’s tally to seven goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him the first England player ever to reach that mark in a single edition of the tournament. The record had previously been shared by Harry Kane and Gary Lineker, who each scored six goals during their respective World Cup campaigns.
Lineker first set the benchmark during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer. Kane later matched the feat during England’s run to the semi-finals in Russia in 2018 before Bellingham finally surpassed both legends.
The 23-year-old could have finished with an even more remarkable tally. England were awarded a second-half penalty that presented Bellingham with the chance to score his eighth goal of the tournament, but he instead handed responsibility to teammate Bukayo Saka.
Speaking after the match, Saka revealed the decision had always been part of the plan. “Jude was never taking it,” the Arsenal winger explained. “He was the first one to tell me to go and get my hat-trick, so I was always going to take the penalty.”
