Bukayo Saka reveals what Jude Bellingham said to him right before he scored his penalty against France

Bukayo Saka has opened up about the conversation he had with Jude Bellingham moments before he scored his penalty against France.

‘The Three Lions’ gave their fans something to cheer about, with a 6-4 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 third-place play-off.

Bukayo Saka says Jude Bellingham told him to get his hat-trick

In a match England fans will never forget for all the wrong reasons, when it mattered most, the country folded under the weight of an Argentine side guided by Lionel Messi.

Heartbroken, the players still had one more match to get through. And while it pales in significance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, the team still wanted to go out against France and deliver a big performance for both the supporters who’ve followed them across North America, and indeed, those watching from back home.

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And when the nation really needed something to lift their spirits, the team provided it, winning 6-4 in a dramatic match, in which Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick, including a penalty.

Before the spot-kick was taken, it appeared like Jude Bellingham could also be in the running to grasp the opportunity. However, in the end, it was the Arsenal man who converted, while the Real Madrid star smiled from ear to ear.

When asked what the situation was during his post-match interview, Saka explained: “No, Jude was never taking it. To be fair, he was the first one to say, ‘Go and get the hat-trick’. He was just holding the ball for me so none of them would try to distract me. I was always going to take it.”