Bukayo Saka produced the best performance of his international career as England beat France 6-4 in the 2026 World Cup third-place final, becoming the fourth England player to score a hat-trick at the World Cup and the first to score a hat-trick in the knockout stages of a World Cup since Sir Geoff Hurst’s iconic feat 60 years ago.Despite early fitness doubts that led to Noni Maddue starting ahead of him earlier in the game, Saka ended up becoming England’s most efficient attacking weapon, finishing the World Cup with three goals and three assists in just 361 minutes. His impact in Miami highlights an issue many fans have been debating during the playoffs.The Arsenal winger scored twice before half-time and completed his treble with a penalty late in the second half to help England achieve their highest World Cup finish since lifting the trophy in 1966 and ensure Thomas Tuchel’s side ended the tournament with a bronze medal.For Saka, the performance placed him alongside some of the greatest names in English football history.
England takes the lead
England got off to the perfect start in Miami. Declan Rice opened the scoring within three minutes before Ezri Konsa doubled their advantage in the 18th minute as France struggled to cope with England’s intensity.Saka then took center stage, scoring his first goal in the 37th minute after a clever link-up with Marcus Rashford. Although France goalkeeper Mike Maignan initially failed to save his first shot, Saka reacted fastest and converted the rebound to make it 3-0.England were not done with the game before half-time.
England’s Declan Rice (right) congratulates Bukayo Saka (7) after scoring his third goal of the match from the penalty spot during the World Cup third-place final football match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
In the injury time of the first half, Konsa broke through the defense and picked out Saka, who calmly shot the ball to help England lead 4-0 at halftime.It was an almost perfect start to the 45 minutes for Tuchel’s side, who seemed to have the game over before the break.
France threaten comeback before Saka makes history
After halftime, the French team responded immediately. Kylian Mbappe pulled a goal back in the 48th minute and Bradley Bakla added another six minutes later to cut England’s lead to 4-2.Mbappe scored again in the 66th minute to bring France within one goal at 4-3, setting up a tense game after what at one point seemed to be a one-sided contest.England eventually regained some breathing room late in the game.Jude Bellingham initially looked set to take the penalty after Marlo Gusteau fouled Jed Spencer in the penalty area in the closing stages, but he generously handed the responsibility to Saka and recognized his teammate’s chance to complete his hat-trick. In the 87th minute, Saka stepped forward and calmly sent the goalkeeper away from the penalty spot, sealing the three goals and allowing England to regain its two-goal advantage.
England’s Bukayo Saka (7) is congratulated by Jude Bellingham (10) and James Reece (24) after scoring his team’s fifth goal from the penalty spot during the World Cup third-place final football match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Although Ousmane Dembélé scored in injury time to make it 5-4, substitute Jude Bellingham scored later to give England a dramatic 6-4 victory.The performance only fueled the debate surrounding England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina, with a fully fit Saka an unused substitute in the 2-1 defeat. Thomas Tuchel later admitted he “just had a feeling” to use a different tactical option, a decision that drew widespread criticism from supporters.
A hat-trick that changed England’s history
Saka’s treble secured his place among one of English football’s most exclusive groups.He became the fourth England men’s player to score a hat-trick at the FIFA World Cup, joining:
- Sir Geoff Hurst (1966 World Cup final vs West Germany)
- Gary Lineker (1986 group stage against Poland)
- Harry Kane (2018 group stage vs. Panama)
- Bukayo Saka (2026 third-place play-off against France)
Lineker and Kane scored hat-tricks in the group stages, while Saka scored a hat-trick in the knockout stages.This distinction puts him alongside one other England player.Sir Geoff Hurst scored the only hat-trick in history in a men’s World Cup final in 1966, as England beat West Germany 4-2 in extra time at Wembley.No England player has scored another hat-trick in a World Cup knockout round for sixty years.Now, exactly 60 years later, Saka has equaled one of the country’s most famous World Cup records.
Crowning one of the best seasons of his career
The performance capped off an outstanding performance for club and country.Saka contributed 14 goals and 12 assists in all competitions this season, helping Arsenal win their first league title in 22 years before becoming England’s standout attacker at the World Cup.His hat-trick also took his tally for England to 17, taking his tally to six at the 2026 World Cup, cementing his status as one of the tournament’s most decisive players, despite his limited playing time.
England’s Bukayo Saka (7) celebrates his team’s fourth goal during the World Cup third-place play-off football match between France and England on Saturday, July 18, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Saka himself later admitted that he had been keen to play a bigger role earlier in the knockout stages, leaving England with a lingering “what-if”, especially given his decisive influence in the third-place play-offs.Perhaps just as importantly, England’s long wait for a podium finish at football’s biggest tournament is finally over.After losing to Italy in the third-place play-off in 1990 and Belgium in the semi-finals in 2018, the Three Lions avoided another disappointment and won the bronze medal, achieving their best World Cup result since 1966.
England’s Harry Kane (9) gestures with teammates, left to right, Reece James (24), Jed Spence (25), Anthony Gordon (18), Bukaz Sarika (7) and Rexri (47) during the World Cup third place play-off football match between France and England in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The match itself will be remembered as one of the greatest three-fourth place finals in World Cup history, with 10 goals scored and several dramatic swings in momentum.But most importantly, it belongs to Bukayo Saka.Sixty years after Sir Geoff Hurst etched his name into English folklore at Wembley, another England striker has now joined the exclusive company with a World Cup hat-trick that will go down as one of the greatest individual performances in the country’s football history.
