Kylian Mbappe vs Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe will battle it out as France takes on England in the third place match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday.
The match has been dubbed the most unwanted encounter as both teams aim to shrug off the disappointment of losing in the semi-finals.
Kylian Mbappe is no stranger to doing wonders at the World Cup following his impressive goal-scoring performances in the tournament since he made his debut in 2018.
He has scored 20 goals and recorded five assists in 21 World Cup matches, spanning three tournaments.
At the 2026 edition, he has once again shown his importance to the French team, scoring eight goals, three assists in six appearances.
The former PSG forward has broken multiple records in the tournament and he will be hoping to continue against England.
He is only behind Lionel Messi on the list for the most goal involvement in the tournament with 11, another productive performance will move him closer or above the Argentina captain.
Read Also: Tuchel concedes England still behind Argentina, France, Spain
Mbappe’s Top World Cup Records
He holds the all-time record for the most goals in World Cup knockout matches (10), surpassing Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Leônidas.
Mbappé is the outright leading scorer in World Cup finals history with 4 goals (1 in 2018, 3 in 2022).
He has registered seven multi-goal games (six braces, one hat-trick), at least three more than any other player in tournament history.
He joined Pelé (1958) as the only teenagers to score in a World Cup final.
After France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden at World Cup 2026, Mbappe became the French player with the most wins in the tournament’s history (15).
Can Bellingham Write his own World Cup Story?
Another Real Madrid star, Jude Bellingham has been a shining light for England in North America, sharing the goalscoring duties with Harry Kane with both players scoring six goals apiece.
He is the top-scoring midfielder at the tournament with six goals; only forwards Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have scored more – no midfielder has ever scored more at a World Cup.
He’s the youngest European to appear at four men’s major tournaments, the second-youngest player after Pele to score twice in back-to-back World Cup knockout games.
The 23-year-old has scored seven goals and recorded two assists in 12 World Cup matches and he will be hoping to add to that tally against France.
He has been the creative force in the English team while also providing the goalscoring threat from midfield.
Read Also: Alvarez will not be playing for FC Barcelona next season –Atletico CEO Gil
Bellingham’s Top World Cup Records
In England’s second group-stage match against Ghana, Bellingham became the youngest player to win 50 England caps, aged 22 years and 359 days.
His brace versus Mexico made Bellingham the first player to score twice at Mexico City Stadium in a World Cup match since the great Diego Maradona some 40 years earlier.
Bellingham now has seven World Cup goals. Only Kylian Mbappe had scored more goals before their 24th birthday, with 12.
Against Mexico, Bellingham became the youngest player to reach ten World Cup appearances, at 23 years and 6 days.
He broke the record by Mario Kempes, who did so aged 23 years and 334 days at Argentina 1978.
His braces against Mexico and Norway made him just the third Englishman to net multiple goals in consecutive World Cup matches.
He followed Gary Lineker versus Poland and Paraguay in 1986, and Harry Kane versus Tunisia and Panama in 2018.
This is the first time one nation has had two players scored six goals or more at a World Cup. Bellingham is joined by his captain Harry Kane, who has also scored half a dozen.
Real Madrid supporters will be watching with keen interests as two of their best players go to battle for the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Facts You Need To Know About France vs England
England have featured in two FIFA World Cup third place play-offs, losing both of them – 2-1 to Italy in 1990 and 2-0 to Belgium in 2018. The only team to lose more than two are Uruguay (3).
France, meanwhile, are playing in the bronze final for a fourth time. They beat Germany in 1958, lost to Poland in 1982, and defeated Belgium in 1986. At least five goals were scored in each game.
Didier Deschamps will take charge of his 187th and final match as manager of the France national team, with his 121 wins more than any other head coach for Les Bleus (D35 L30).
With 14 goals, Kane is the joint-fifth highest scorer in World Cup history, along with Gerd Müller, and sits one goal behind Ronaldo Nazario (15).
France vs England Head-to-Head
This is the fourth World Cup meeting between France and England the Three Lions won the first two (2-0 in 1966, 3-1 in 1982) but France won 2-1 in the 2022 quarter-final most recently.
England have won just one of their last nine matches against France (D2 L6), winning 2-0 in a November 2015 friendly. They’re winless in four competitive meetings (D2 L2) since a 3-1 win in the World Cup in 1982.
France vs England Form Guide:
France World Cup form: W-W-W-W-W-L
England World Cup form: D-W-W-W-W-L
France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Lacroix, T. Hernandez; Kone, Zaire-Emery; Cherki, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. 65,326 Capacity.
Time: 10 pm Nigerian time
Mbappé, Bellingham take centre stage in World Cup bronze battle
Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe will battle it out as France takes on England in the third place match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday.
The match has been dubbed the most unwanted encounter as both teams aim to shrug off the disappointment of losing in the semi-finals.
Kylian Mbappe is no stranger to doing wonders at the World Cup following his impressive goal-scoring performances in the tournament since he made his debut in 2018.
He has scored 20 goals and recorded five assists in 21 World Cup matches, spanning three tournaments.
At the 2026 edition, he has once again shown his importance to the French team, scoring eight goals, three assists in six appearances.
The former PSG forward has broken multiple records in the tournament and he will be hoping to continue against England.
He is only behind Lionel Messi on the list for the most goal involvement in the tournament with 11, another productive performance will move him closer or above the Argentina captain.
Read Also: Tuchel concedes England still behind Argentina, France, Spain
Mbappe’s Top World Cup Records
He holds the all-time record for the most goals in World Cup knockout matches (10), surpassing Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Leônidas.
Mbappé is the outright leading scorer in World Cup finals history with 4 goals (1 in 2018, 3 in 2022).
He has registered seven multi-goal games (six braces, one hat-trick), at least three more than any other player in tournament history.
He joined Pelé (1958) as the only teenagers to score in a World Cup final.
After France’s 3-0 victory over Sweden at World Cup 2026, Mbappe became the French player with the most wins in the tournament’s history (15).
Can Bellingham Write his own World Cup Story?
Another Real Madrid star, Jude Bellingham has been a shining light for England in North America, sharing the goalscoring duties with Harry Kane with both players scoring six goals apiece.
He is the top-scoring midfielder at the tournament with six goals; only forwards Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have scored more – no midfielder has ever scored more at a World Cup.
He’s the youngest European to appear at four men’s major tournaments, the second-youngest player after Pele to score twice in back-to-back World Cup knockout games.
The 23-year-old has scored seven goals and recorded two assists in 12 World Cup matches and he will be hoping to add to that tally against France.
He has been the creative force in the English team while also providing the goalscoring threat from midfield.
Read Also: Alvarez will not be playing for FC Barcelona next season –Atletico CEO Gil
Bellingham’s Top World Cup Records
In England’s second group-stage match against Ghana, Bellingham became the youngest player to win 50 England caps, aged 22 years and 359 days.
His brace versus Mexico made Bellingham the first player to score twice at Mexico City Stadium in a World Cup match since the great Diego Maradona some 40 years earlier.
Bellingham now has seven World Cup goals. Only Kylian Mbappe had scored more goals before their 24th birthday, with 12.
Against Mexico, Bellingham became the youngest player to reach ten World Cup appearances, at 23 years and 6 days.
He broke the record by Mario Kempes, who did so aged 23 years and 334 days at Argentina 1978.
His braces against Mexico and Norway made him just the third Englishman to net multiple goals in consecutive World Cup matches.
He followed Gary Lineker versus Poland and Paraguay in 1986, and Harry Kane versus Tunisia and Panama in 2018.
This is the first time one nation has had two players scored six goals or more at a World Cup. Bellingham is joined by his captain Harry Kane, who has also scored half a dozen.
Real Madrid supporters will be watching with keen interests as two of their best players go to battle for the bronze medal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Facts You Need To Know About France vs England
England have featured in two FIFA World Cup third place play-offs, losing both of them – 2-1 to Italy in 1990 and 2-0 to Belgium in 2018. The only team to lose more than two are Uruguay (3).
France, meanwhile, are playing in the bronze final for a fourth time. They beat Germany in 1958, lost to Poland in 1982, and defeated Belgium in 1986. At least five goals were scored in each game.
Didier Deschamps will take charge of his 187th and final match as manager of the France national team, with his 121 wins more than any other head coach for Les Bleus (D35 L30).
With 14 goals, Kane is the joint-fifth highest scorer in World Cup history, along with Gerd Müller, and sits one goal behind Ronaldo Nazario (15).
France vs England Head-to-Head
This is the fourth World Cup meeting between France and England the Three Lions won the first two (2-0 in 1966, 3-1 in 1982) but France won 2-1 in the 2022 quarter-final most recently.
England have won just one of their last nine matches against France (D2 L6), winning 2-0 in a November 2015 friendly. They’re winless in four competitive meetings (D2 L2) since a 3-1 win in the World Cup in 1982.
France vs England Form Guide:
France World Cup form: W-W-W-W-W-L
England World Cup form: D-W-W-W-W-L
France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Lacroix, T. Hernandez; Kone, Zaire-Emery; Cherki, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. 65,326 Capacity.
Time: 10 pm Nigerian time
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