Spain were 2-0 ahead by the 31st minute thanks to two goals from Barcelona forward Sergio Gomez.

Two goals from man-of-the-match Philip Foden and one apiece for Rhian Brewster, Morgan Gibbs White and Marc Guehi earned England a dramatic victory at the Salt Lake Stadium.

The win was sweet revenge for England, who lost on penalties to Spain in the final of the UEFA Under-17 European Championship in May.

Brewster, one of the two players to fail to convert from the spot five months ago, finished as the World Cup’s top scorer with eight goals.

England had never previously progressed beyond the quarter-finals in the tournament but they emulated their country's under-20 side, who won their World Cup in South Korea in June.

Gomez opened the scoring in the 10th minute, nodding home after Juan Miranda’s cross from the left struck César Gelabert and bounced goalwards. 

The 17-year-old's second goal just after the half-hour mark was a fine strike from close range, with Gelabert and captain Abel Ruiz involved in the build-up.

Undeterred, England fought back to score five unanswered goals. 

They halved the deficit just before half-time through Liverpool forward Brewster, who headed home Steven Sessegnon’s fine cross from the right.

England drew level just before the hour mark as Sessegnon’s low cross found an unmarked Gibbs White to make it 2-2. 

They then took the lead through Foden’s second goal of the tournament on 69 minutes, converting Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.

Any hopes of a Spain comeback were banished in the 84th minute when Guehi finished off a Hudson-Odoi free-kick for the fourth

Foden's second goal of the match wrapped up the win in the dying minutes after England hit their opponents on the counter-attack. 

Defeat for Spain meant they finished runners-up for the fourth time.

They also came second in 1991, 2003 and 2007. 

The third-place play-off was held at the same venue earlier in the day and saw Brazil defeat Mali 2-0.

Following a goalless first-half, Alan gave Brazil the lead after Mali goalkeeper Youssouf Koita failed to make what appeared to be a routine save by letting a rolling shot slip past him and into the net.

The West Africans pushed hard for an equaliser but it proved to be in vain as Brazil sealed victory with a late goal from substitute Yuri Alberto.

It is the second time that the South Americans have finished third at an Under-17 World Cup having also done so in 1985.