MX23RW : Wednesday, May 31 00:06:06| >> :600:4780758:4780758:

Legendary France striker Just Fontaine dies, aged 89

France legend Just Fontaine dies, aged 89
© Reuters
Legendary French striker Just Fontaine, who scored an unparalleled 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup, dies at the age of 89.

Legendary France striker Just Fontaine has died at the age of 89.

The former Stade de Reims forward famously scored 13 goals in just six games at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the highest-ever tally in a single edition of the tournament.

That was the only World Cup that Fontaine played in, but only three players in the competition's history have scored more than his 13 - Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo and Gerd Muller.

Fontaine is currently fourth on that list, level with Lionel Messi, but has the best goals-to-game ratio of any player to have scored 12 or more World Cup goals, including the likes of Ronaldo, Muller, Messi, Pele and Kylian Mbappe.

Throughout his whole international career, Fontaine scored 30 goals in just 21 games for his country from 1953 to 1960, boasting the best goals-per-game ratio among any player to have played 10 or more times for France.

"A star of French football, an outstanding striker, a legendary Reims player," read a statement from Reims.

Paris Saint-Germain, whom Fontaine guided into the top flight during a spell as manager, added: "A thought for Just Fontaine. An icon of French football who has left us."

The Moroccan-born striker began his career with USM Casablanca in the country of his birth, scoring 62 goals in 48 games before earning a switch to Nice.

There, Fontaine netted 51 times in 84 games, before joining Reims where he added a further 145 goals in just 152 appearances.

During his club career, the prolific frontman won four Ligue 1 titles, two Coupes de France and one Trophee des Champions, as well as helping Reims to the 1958-59 European Cup final, where they were beaten by Real Madrid.

Fontaine won the European Cup Golden Boot courtesy of his 10 goals in that year's tournament, while he twice finished as the top scorer in Ligue 1 and eventually finished his career with 165 goals in 200 outings in the French top flight.

Recurring injury issues forced Fontaine into an early retirement shortly before his 29th birthday.

The legendary figure went on to have a short stint as France manager, lasting only two friendly games, before also taking charge of Paris Saint-Germain, Toulouse and Morocco.

Fontaine's exploits at the 1958 World Cup are undoubtedly what he is most famous for, though, having scored in every match during the tournament, including a four-goal haul against defending champions West Germany in the third-place playoff to secure bronze.

ID:507862:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4659:

Click here for more stories about Just Fontaine

Click here for more stories about France

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the World Cup on December 18, 2022
Read Next:
Top 25 sporting moments of 2022: Lionel Messi, Pele, Roger Federer
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Real Madrid Until The End
Today's games header
10am
Ofner
Korda
10am
Ostapenko
Stearns
10am
Fognini
Kubler
10am
Mertens
Osorio
10am
Hunter
Svitolina
10am
Carballes Baena
Tsitsipas
10.45am
Giorgi
Pegula
11.30am
Sherif
Potapova
11.30am
Sonego
Humbert
11.30am
Samsonova
Pavlyuchenkova
11.30am
Schwartzman
Borges
11.30am
Wawrinka
Kokkinakis
12pm
Muchova
Podoroska
12pm
Putintseva
Zheng
12pm
Vondrousova
Kasatkina
12.15pm
Garcia
Blinkova
1pm
Arnaldi
Shapovalov
1pm
Griekspoor
Hurkacz
1.30pm
Bautista Agut
Pablo Varillas
1.30pm
Stephens
Gracheva
1.30pm
Khachanov
Albot
1.30pm
Errani
Begu
1.30pm
Moutet
Rublev
1.30pm
Shymanovich
Sabalenka
1.45pm
Alcaraz
Daniel
3pm
Van Assche
Davidovich Fokina
3pm
Musetti
Shevchenko
3pm
Pouille
Norrie
3.30pm
Frech
Rakhimova
3.30pm
Fernandez
Tauson
3.30pm
Jeanjean
Avanesyan
7.15pm
Djokovic
Fucsovics
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38285594336189
2Arsenal38266688434584
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd38236958431575
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381914568333571
5Liverpool381910975472867
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381881272531962
7Aston Villa38187135146561
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs38186147063760
9Brentford381514958461259
10Fulham38157165553252
11Crystal Palace381112154049-945
12Chelsea381111163847-944
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38118193158-2741
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham38117204255-1340
15Bournemouth38116213771-3439
16Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest38911183868-3038
17Everton38812183457-2336
RLeicester CityLeicester3897225168-1734
RLeeds UnitedLeeds38710214878-3031
RSouthampton3867253673-3725

Real Madrid Until The End
Ted Lasso creative

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!