World Cup top scorer Just Fontaine dies

PARIS (AP) — Just Fontaine, the French soccer star who held the World Cup goalscoring record with his 13 goals in Sweden in 1958, has died. He was 89 years old.

His former club, Reims, announced the death on Wednesday.

The striker took six games to achieve his feat in Sweden, after being integrated at the last minute into the France team.

Before the World Cup, the Moroccan of Fontaine origin was little known outside the French championship. However, he tormented his rivals with his speed and his last shot, played even with other people’s boots. He had to borrow a pair after ruining his in training.

Fontaine scored four goals in the third-place game against West Germany, but his tally could have been increased had a penalty been taken.

Currently, the tournament’s top scorer receives the Golden Boot, but Fontaine reached his record when FIFA did not award this award.

“Beat my record? I don’t think that can ever be done,” Fontaine told The Associated Press in a 2006 interview. “Whoever wants to beat me will have a huge task, won’t they? He must score two goals per game in seven games. .”

At a time when changes to the starting XI were not allowed, France lost 5-2 in the semi-finals to a Brazilian side which featured a young Pelé, just 17 years old.

Fontaine, who has seen the goal in all matches played, gave France the lead with Brazil’s first goal conceded in the World Cup. But on the score of 1-1, the French defender Robert Jonquet broke his leg. Although he continues to play and tries to contain the genius of Pelé, the French defense is considerably weakened.

The footballer who has scored the most goals in the Men’s World Cup throughout his career is German striker Miroslav Klose, with 17 goals in four tournaments. Fontaine, who broke the record of 11 goals set by Hungarian striker Sándor Kocsis in the 1954 World Cup, played in just one World Cup.

Fontaine’s meteoric career as a goalscorer saw him score 200 goals in 213 games. With the jersey of France he signed 30.

His career is cut short when he is only 28 years old. The Frenchman, famed for his dizzying speed and relentless finishing, suffered a horrific broken leg after a tackle in March 1960.