England's Bukayo Saka (7) is congratulated by Jude Bellingham (10) and Reece James (24) after scoring his side's 5th goal from the penalty spot during the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, July 18. AP-Yonhap
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Bukayo Saka scored three goals to lead England to a 6-4 win over France for third place in the World Cup, while Kylian Mbappé surpassed Lionel Messi's career tournament scoring record and took the lead in the Golden Boot race with a pair of second-half goals on Saturday.
It was the highest-scoring World Cup game since Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982, and the 10 goals were the most in a third-place match.
Saka had goals in the 37th minute and in first-half stoppage time, then added his third on a penalty in the 87th for his second career hat trick with England. The Three Lions also got goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa to build a 4-0 halftime lead, and they hung on during a wild second half to secure their second-best finish in the World Cup. England won its only title in 1966.
England's Jude Bellingham capped the scoring in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, his seventh goal of the tournament.
