This Day in History: 2022-11-21

Nr. 348

LUCKY NUMBER 13 FOR JUST FONTAINE (1958)

For over half a century Just Fontaine has held the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup after registering an incredible 13 for France at the 1958 tournament.
Before travelling to Sweden, the 24-year-old Stade de Reims striker wasn’t even certain of a place in the French side, but an ankle injury to his team-mate Rene Bliard gave him his opportunity. With Real Madrid’s Raymond Kopa operating behind him, Fontaine thrived and helped himself to goals at will in Sweden.
Fontaine also scored in six consecutive games to set another record. In the group stage he opened his account with a hat-trick against Paraguay, then a double against Yugoslavia and one against Scotland. In the quarter-finals he scored twice in France’s 4-0 win over Northern Ireland and in the semi-final he scored once, but it wasn’t enough as France crashed out 5-2 to Brazil. In the third/fourth place play-off Fontaine ran riot and scored four in a 6-3 win over West Germany.

France’s Just Fontaine is chaired off by his team-mates after scoring four goals in his team’s 6-3 third place play-off win to set a new individual scoring record of 13 goals in one World Cup.