World Cup legend Just Fontaine dies aged 89

01.03.2023 - 23:19 euronews.com

Just Fontaine's former club Stade de Reims and the French soccer federation confirmed the French star's death on Wednesday following an impressive strike rate of 259 goals out of a total of 283 matches in his club career.Fontaine scored a record 13 goals in a single edition of the World Cup.

He took six games to achieve his feat at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, shortly after winning a French league and French Cup double for his side.“Justo is, and will remain a legend of the French team," France coach Didier Deschamps said.Entering the World Cup tournament, the Moroccan-born Fontaine was a little-known forward outside of the French league.

Yet he tormented opponents with his speed and finishing touch — and even with someone else’s boots. He had to borrow a pair of cleats after damaging his own boots in practice.Fontaine scored four goals in the third-place game against West Germany but could have had five if he had taken the penalty kick.In addition to his feats with the national team, Fontaine won the French league title four times, the French Cup and reached the final of the 1959 European Cup during his club career with USM Casablanca, Nice and Reims.After he retired, Fontaine co-founded France's players' union and served as chairman for a few years.

He also briefly coached France's national team before stints with Luchon, Paris Saint-Germain, Toulouse and the Moroccan national team.“A French football icon has passed, and Paris Saint-Germain would like to pay tribute to the man who led them to the first division some 50 years ago,” PSG said in a statement, referring to Fontaine guiding the club to the top league after a playoff win in 1974.The French soccer federation said tributes to Fontaine will take place across

Football cup Didier Deschamps Sweden France Germany Morocco

PARIS: Karim Benzema has responded to Didier Deschamps' claim that the striker told him "he wouldn't have been ready" to play at the World Cup because of an injury, by implying the France coach was a "liar".

Just Fontaine obituary

The French footballer Just Fontaine, who has died aged 89, was one of the major surprises of the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden. Arriving there with the France squad as a reserve striker with few expectations of being called to the colours, he ended up with the remarkable total of 13 goals – a record that will surely never be surpassed.

Mengenang Just Fontaine, Pemilik Rekor 'Abadi' di Piala Dunia

Just Fontaine baru saja meninggal dalam usia 89 tahun pada 1 Maret lalu. Semasa hidupnya, ia dikenal dunia berkat rekor yang ia ciptakan di Piala Dunia 1958, yang sampai sekarang belum ada yang mampu memecahkannya.

Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals at 1958 World Cup, dies

PARIS: Just Fontaine, the French soccer great who scored a record 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup, has died. He was 89. Fontaine’s former club Reims and the French soccer federation confirmed his death on Wednesday.

When Just Fontaine swanned around Sweden … and the world

The French know a thing or two about producing tournament goalscorers all right. For a start there’s Kylian Mbappé, whose eight in Qatar last year was the biggest haul at a single World Cup for 20 years, since Ronaldo scored the same number in South Korea and Japan. No other player in the last half a century has come close. Then there’s Michel Platini, whose nine at Euro 84 remains an all-time record in that particular competition. No small achievement, either of those, and yet they both pale into insignificance when compared to the way Just Fontaine, who has died aged 89, swanned around Sweden at the 1958 World Cup.

‘Monument of French football’ Just Fontaine dies aged 89

Just Fontaine, who holds the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup tournament, has died aged 89.