Bellingham sets new England record for most goals in a major tournament

Jude Bellingham became the first England player to score seven goals at a major tournament after finding the net in the Three Lions’ dramatic 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off.

The Real Madrid midfielder started on the bench in Miami but produced a memorable cameo after replacing Ivan Toney in the 79th minute.

With the game already destined to go down as one of the tournament’s most entertaining contests, Bellingham put the result beyond doubt by embarking on a surging run from inside his own half before coolly finishing into the bottom corner with virtually the final kick of the match.

The strike took the 23-year-old onto seven goals for the tournament, breaking a record that had previously been shared by Gary Lineker and Harry Kane.

Lineker scored six times as England reached the quarter-finals at Mexico 1986, while Kane matched the feat on the way to the semi-finals in Russia in 2018 and equalled it again during the 2026 campaign. With the England captain rested for the bronze-medal play-off, Bellingham had the chance to claim the record for himself – and took it in style.

Bellingham’s route to history was as impressive as the milestone itself. He opened his account with goals against Croatia and Panama in the group stage before scoring twice against Mexico in the last 16 and adding another brace in the quarter-final victory over Norway. His late solo effort against France completed a seven-goal haul that no England player has ever managed at a World Cup or European Championship.