England claimed their best World Cup finish since winning the tournament in 1966, surviving a remarkable French fightback to win a wild 6-4 third-place playoff in Miami.

But the night belonged to Kylian Mbappe. The France captain scored twice to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals, surpassing Lionel Messi’s record of 21. His double also took him to a record-breaking 10 goals for the tournament, moving him two clear of Messi in the Golden Boot race with just the final remaining.

England raced into a stunning 4-0 half-time lead through goals from stand-in captain Declan Rice, Ezri Konsa, and a Bukayo Saka brace. But France mounted a breathtaking second-half comeback, with Mbappe scoring twice and Bradley Barcola also finding the net.

Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Djed Spence was fouled, but Ousmane Dembele pulled one back in stoppage time. Jude Bellingham then sealed the victory with a brilliant solo run and finish in the eighth minute of added time.

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With both teams resting key players after their semi-final heartbreaks, England’s second string delivered a remarkable first-half performance.

Declan Rice, captaining the side, opened the scoring in the third minute, intercepting a sloppy pass from Désiré Doué before firing home from outside the box. It was England’s second-fastest goal in World Cup history.

Rice turned provider in the 18th minute, delivering a corner for Ezri Konsa to head home and double England’s lead.

Bukayo Saka then took centre stage. The Arsenal winger scored in the 37th minute from close range before adding a second in first-half stoppage time, with Eberechi Eze providing the assist. England led 4-0 at the break—the first time France had ever conceded four goals in the opening half of a World Cup match.

Didier Deschamps, coaching his final match for France after 14 years at the helm, made four half-time substitutions. France responded immediately.

In the 48th minute, Dayot Upamecano threaded a pinpoint pass into the box for Mbappe, who calmly slotted past Dean Henderson to make it 4-1. The goal drew him level with Messi on 21 career World Cup goals.

Six minutes later, Bradley Barcola hammered home to reduce the deficit to 4-2.

Mbappe then wrote his name into history. In the 66th minute, Michael Olise played a clever one-two sequence with Mbappe. The France captain controlled the ball and fired a left-footed finish past Henderson for his 22nd World Cup goal. It was also his record-breaking 10th of the tournament.

Olise, who assisted both of Mbappe’s goals, took his tournament tally to seven assists, breaking Pele’s record for the most assists at a single World Cup, which had stood since 1970.

France pushed for an equaliser. Michael Olise had a golden chance to make it 4-4 in the 82nd minute but fired wide.

Then, in the 87th minute, England were awarded a penalty when Djed Spence was brought down in the box by Malo Gusto. Jude Bellingham, who had come on as a substitute, handed the ball to Saka, who was on a hat-trick. The Arsenal winger kept his cool and sent Mike Maignan the wrong way to complete his treble.

With seven minutes of stoppage time signalled, France struck again. Dayot Upamecano drove forward and found Ousmane Dembele, who cut inside and curled a stunning effort into the corner to make it 5-4.

But Bellingham had the final word. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, the Real Madrid star sprinted down the left, burst into the box, cut past Maxence Lacroix and Dayot Upamecano, and slid the ball past Maignan to make it 6-4. His goal sealed England’s victory and gave him seven goals at this World Cup, a record for an English player in a single tournament.