01 March 2023 , 09:50
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Legendary France striker Just Fontaine has passed away, aged 89.
Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored at a single World Cup, having netted 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup. He scored 30 goals in 21 games between 1953 and 1960 for Les Bleus, before his career was cut short by injuries.
During his club career, Fontaine played for USM Casablanca, Nice and Stade Reims. He won the French first division four times, as well as the Coupe de France and the French Super Cup.
He was forced to retire aged just 28 after breaking his leg twice in quick succession. But despite playing in just one World Cup, he remains fourth on the list of all-time top scorers in the competition, behind Germany's Miroslav Klose (16), Brazil's Ronaldo (15) and Germany's Gerd Muller (14).
Just Fontaine's achievement at the 1958 World Cup has never been surpassed (AFP/Getty Images)He sits alongside Argentina legend Lionel Messi on 13 goals, with France's Kylian Mbappe and Brazil legend Pele one behind on 12.
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After retiring from playing in 1962, he founded the National Union of Professional Football players before moving into management. He took charge of the France team in 1967 before coaching Luchon, Paris Saint-Germain, Toulouse and the Morocco national team, who he guided to third place at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations.
Fontaine was born to a Spanish mother in Marrakech, which was part of French Morocco in 1933. After starting his career in Morocco with Casablanca, he moved to France to continue his career.
Just Fontaine scored 30 goals in 21 games for France (Mirrorpix)His career peaked at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when he combined with Raymond Kopa to form a deadly strike partnership. Though France ultimately fell short, finishing third behind winners Brazil and runners-up Sweden, he made history.
Fontaine scored a whopping 13 goals throughout the tournament, finishing seven clear of Pele and Germany's Helmet Rahn in second place. That tally has never been topped, with Hungary's Sandor Kocsis netting 11 in 1954 and Germany's Gerd Muller notching 10 in 1970.
Just Fontaine received his Golden Boot years later (Getty Images)In 2004 Fontaine was named as the ‘one of the 100 greatest living footballers’ by Pele, who was a great admirer of his talents, having seen him up close at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Fontaine did not believe that his momentous achievement in Sweden will ever be beaten. "The state of the ball, the length of the trip over and the amateurism of the backroom staff made everything much more complicated than today," he said, in quotes reported by the Guardian.
"I had somebody else's boots as well. And the last great World Cup scorer, Ronaldo, played against teams such as China and Costa Rica. Above all else, referees protect strikers much more than they did in my day. So let me repeat it: 13 goals is an enormous total. Beating my record? I don't think it can ever be done."