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Jude Bellingham has carved his name into football history by becoming the first English player to score seven goals in a single World Cup tournament. The Real Madrid midfielder reached this remarkable milestone during England’s thrilling bronze-medal clash against France, breaking long-standing national records.

A Historic Finale for Bellingham

In one of the most dramatic encounters ever seen at a World Cup, Bellingham rose to the occasion and cemented his status among England’s all-time greats. The 23-year-old came on as a late substitute but made an instant impact, scoring a stunning solo goal during second-half stoppage time to complete a 6-4 victory over Les Bleus.

Bellingham’s route to this record-breaking moment was nothing short of clinical. His seven-goal tally included strikes against Panama and Croatia in the group stage, as well as doubles against Mexico and Norway in the knockout rounds. Former England international Danny Murphy praised his composure on BBC, saying, “He has such confidence in his own ability. The patience, the skill, the shot. What a goal from England’s best player.”

Saka Steals the Spotlight in a 10-Goal Thriller

Although Bellingham dominated the headlines with his record, he was brilliantly supported by Bukayo Saka, who delivered his best performance of the tournament. The Arsenal winger scored his first three goals of the campaign and took home the match ball after completing a hat-trick.

One of the most touching moments came late in the game when England were awarded a penalty. Bellingham, who could have extended his record further, handed the opportunity to Saka instead. After the final whistle, Saka explained, “No, Jude was never taking it. He was the first one to say go and get your hat-trick, so none of them came to distract me. I was always going to take it.”

Bellingham Surpasses Lineker and Kane

Bellingham’s achievement takes on even greater significance when viewed in the context of England’s storied World Cup history. Gary Lineker’s six goals at Mexico 1986 had stood as the benchmark for over 30 years, only matched by Harry Kane in both Russia 2018 and the current tournament. Now, Bellingham stands alone at the summit.

He joins an exclusive group of England legends — including Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Sir Geoff Hurst — and his goals from midfield have drawn comparisons to some of the most complete players in the sport’s history. Scoring seven goals in one tournament is a feat even many legendary strikers never achieved.

What Lies Ahead?

This high-scoring third-place play-off will go down as the most prolific in World Cup history. While England rejoiced in Bellingham’s record-breaking moment, France’s Kylian Mbappe set his own milestone by scoring twice to reach 22 World Cup goals, surpassing Lionel Messi to become the tournament’s all-time top scorer. However, Messi still has an opportunity to reclaim that record in the final against Spain.

As England’s players collected their bronze medals, all eyes were on the young midfielder who has become the heart of the team under Thomas Tuchel’s management. At just 23, Bellingham has already overtaken some of England’s most iconic names, and his future with the Three Lions looks boundless.