Tag: Just Fontaine

Just Fontaine made his only World Cup count

The prolific striker died on Wednesday at age 89

Just Fontaine, who became an instant legend with his 13-goal performance at the 1958 World Cup, has died at the age of 89.

The former France striker holds the record for most goals at a single World Cup, and is still tied for fourth in all-time men’s World Cup goals despite only playing in one World Cup.

Fontaine only made the France roster for the 1958 World Cup after injuries to other strikers, but he went on to score an incredible 13 times over six games as France finished the tournament in third place.

A breakdown of Fontaine’s goals at the 1958 World Cup:

Group stage

France 7-3 Paraguay: Three goals

Yugoslavia 3-2 France: Two goals

France 2-1 Scotland: One goal

Quarterfinal

France 4-0 Northern Ireland: Two goals

Semifinal

Brazil 5-2 France: One goal

Third-place playoff

France 6-3 West Germany: Four goals

Fontaine’s career would sadly last just four more years, as he was forced to retire in 1962 at the age of 28 after suffering a double leg fracture.

He would end his France national team career with 30 goals in just 21 games.

Fontaine went on to coach the France national team in 1967 before moving to the club game to manage PSG and Toulouse. He would then manage his birth country of Morocco from 1979 to 1981.

“The death of Just Fontaine plunges French football into deep emotion and immense sadness,” France Football Federation interim president Philippe Diallo said in a statement.

“He wrote one of the most beautiful pages in the history of the French team.”

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