MX23RW : Saturday, November 2 04:59:46| >> :600:159693:159693:

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:collect3834:

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
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City97202091123
2Liverpool97111751222
3Arsenal95311710718
4Aston Villa95311611518
5Chelsea95221911817
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest9441117416
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
9Brentford94141818013
10Fulham93331212012
11Bournemouth93331111012
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9333910-112
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham93241316-311
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
16Everton92341016-69
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
20Southampton9018619-131


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!