There are some people footballers who play more than five World Cups to score ten goals. Then there is legendary French striker Just Fontaine, whose 13 goals in a single World Cup edition of 1958, staged in Sweden, fetched him an epitaph of a legend, with the unbroken record of scoring highest number of goals in a single installment of the Cup, called Jules Rimet Cup, erstwhile.
He found the back of the net 13 times in 1958 World Cup, and scored 30 goals in 21 games for the “Les Bleus” from 1953 to 1960, before his brilliant career was cut short due to unfortunate events like injuries.
In a career which could have been one of the glorious of World Football, his was a bit unlucky one. In the club strata, he played for several prestigious clubs like USM Casablanca, Nice and Stade Reims. He clinched the French league four times, as well as adjudged winners in Coupe de France and French Super Cup.
A bright prospect on the field, stalled due to misfortune
Just Fontaine remains in the fourth position in all time leading goal scorers in a World Cup, ranking behind Miroslav Klose- the German legend(16), Brazil’s Ronaldo(15) and Germany’s Gerd Muller(14).
He is tied with newly crowned champions Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi.
Founding father of the football fraternity
After retiring from professional football in 1962, he established the National Union of Professional Football, before trying his hand in management.
He took charge of the French national football team in 1967, before coaching Luchon, Paris Saint Germain and Moroccan National team, which took the third spot in the 1980 edition of African Cup of Nations.
Deadly striker duo was nightmare for every team
Fontaine, along with his strike partner Raymond Kopa, formed a deadly striking partnership, which was a nightmare for all opponents.
Legend recognizes Legend
In 2004, he was named as the top 100 living football greats of all time by another legend Pele, who observed him from very close range in 1958 World Cup.
