Just Fontaine, the French soccer star who set a World Cup record with 13 goals in 1958, died on March 1 at the age of 89.
Mr. Fontaine’s previous club Reims and the French soccer federation both confirmed his death but did not elaborate.
Mr. Fontaine achieved his accomplishment in six games at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, when he was a last-minute addition to the French side.
Mr. Fontaine was a little-known forward outside of the French league when he entered the World Cup.
Nevertheless he tortured opponents with his quickness and finishing touch — and even with someone else’s boots. He had to borrow cleats after ruining his own during practise.
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Table of Contents
Just Fontaine: Who Was He?
Just Fontaine was a prominent figure in the world of football. With his remarkable skills, he had gained worldwide recognition and left an indelible mark on the history of the sport.1
Born on August 18, 1933, in Marrakech, French Morocco, Just Louis Fontaine was the son of Delphin Louis Martin Fontaine, a Frenchman, and Marie Dolores Ortega, a Spaniard.
He grew up in a large family with six siblings. From a young age, Fontaine showed a keen interest in football and began playing the sport with his friends.
Fontaine’s talent was quickly recognized, and he started playing for local clubs. In 1950, he joined the USM Casablanca and helped the team win the Moroccan championship in his first season.
In 1953, he moved to France and played for the OGC Nice, where he achieved great success. He won the Ligue 1 Golden Boot award for the highest goalscorer in the league for four consecutive seasons (1958-1961), a feat that has yet to be surpassed.
Fontaine was also a key member of the French national team. He played for Les Bleus between 1953 and 1960 and scored an impressive 30 goals in just 21 appearances.
He holds the record for the most goals scored in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup. In 1958, he scored 13 goals in just six matches and helped France secure third place in the tournament.
Just Fontaine was a devoted husband to his wife Arlette, whom he had been married to for over 60 years. The couple had two children together. Fontaine passed away on March 1, 2023, at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be remembered.
Just Fontaine: Personal Information
| Full Name | Just Fontaine |
| Occupation | Soccer Player |
| Age | 89 |
| Date of Birth | August 14, 1933 |
| Place of Birth | Marrakesh, Morocco |
| Star Sign | Leo |
| Country | Morocco |
| Gender | Male |
Just Fontaine: Death Cause Explored!
Just Fontaine, the legendary French footballer, passed away at the age of 89, leaving the football world in mourning.2
His family announced his demise on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, but did not disclose the cause of his death. With his phenomenal career as a forward for both club and country, Fontaine will always be remembered as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Fontaine was a prolific scorer who made a significant impact on French football during the 1950s and 1960s.
He played for clubs such as Nice and Stade de Reims, where he won four Ligue 1 titles and reached the final of the European Cup twice.
He also played for the French national team and scored a remarkable 30 goals in 21 appearances.
Fontaine’s record-breaking performance at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden is still regarded as one of the greatest achievements in football history.
He scored 13 goals in just six games, which is still the most by any player in a single edition of the tournament. Fontaine’s remarkable feat helped France secure the third place in the competition.
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Just Fontaine: Tributes
The news of Fontaine’s passing has led to an outpouring of tributes from the football community worldwide.
French national newspaper L’Equipe shared the news of Fontaine’s death on their social media and online publication, paying tribute to his exceptional talent and achievements.
Paris Saint-Germain, one of the top football clubs in France, also took to Twitter to express their condolences, highlighting Fontaine’s contribution to the team’s history.
Numerous international news media, such as Mirror, Daily Mail, The Athletic, and Associated Press, also wrote obituaries on Fontaine’s passing, highlighting his impressive career and lasting legacy in French football.
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Just Fontaine: Legacy
Just Fontaine’s death marks the end of an era in French football.
However, his remarkable achievements and contributions to the sport will continue to inspire generations of football fans worldwide
. With his incredible talent and tenacity on the field, Fontaine cemented his place in football history as one of the greatest players of all time. His legacy will live on, and he will always be remembered as a true legend of the game.
Just Fontaine: Records And Achievements
- Renowned as a goal-scoring machine and record-breaker, Fontaine is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.3
- His exceptional talent saw him become one of only three players to have scored more goals at World Cups than anyone else, an impressive feat considering that he only played in the 1958 tournament.
- Fontaine’s journey to the World Cup was not without its hurdles. Injuries to his fellow forwards Thadee Cisowski and Rene Bliard paved the way for him to take his place on the field.
- His performances on the pitch were nothing short of exceptional, as he scored in every game in Sweden, including four goals in a 6-3 win over West Germany in the third-place play-off.
- In addition to his World Cup success, Fontaine’s international career spanned just seven years, during which he scored an incredible 30 goals in only 21 appearances for France, cementing his status as a prolific striker.
- At club level, Fontaine spent much of his career at Stade de Reims, where he scored an impressive 145 goals in 152 appearances, earning three Ligue 1 titles and reaching the 1959 European Cup final.
- Unfortunately, they lost to a star-studded Real Madrid team that featured footballing greats Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas.
- Fontaine also played for Nice and Moroccan side USM Casablanca, but his career was cut short in 1962 when he suffered a devastating double leg fracture at the young age of 28.
- After retiring from playing, Fontaine went on to have a successful managerial career. He took charge of the French national team for two games in 1967 before leading Paris St-Germain to promotion to the top division in 1974, where they have remained ever since.
- He then moved on to Toulouse before becoming the coach of his birth country, Morocco, leading them to third place at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations.
- In addition to his footballing accomplishments, Fontaine played a significant role in the formation of the French player’s union, the UNFP, and became its first president in 1961.
- In 2004, Fontaine was honored by being named on Pele’s prestigious list of the 125 greatest living footballers, a testament to his incredible talent and contribution to the sport.
Just Fontaine: Net Worth 2023 And Charity
Just Fontaine’s wealth surpassed $3 million as of 2023.
Just Fontaine obtained victories in the Coupe de France, the French Super Cup, and the French First Division for four consecutive seasons, which may have added to his net worth.
The footballer encountered two quick leg injuries, which resulted in his retirement at a young age of 28. Despite only appearing in one World Cup, he remains the fourth highest scorer in all-time competition.
At the UEFA Jubilee Awards in November 2003, the French Football Federation designated Fontaine as the best French player of the previous 50 years.
In 1961, Fontaine co-founded the National Union of Professional Football Players with Eugène N’Jo Léa.
In 1967, Just Fontaine became a coach and the manager of France, but he only participated in two games, both of which were friendly matches and ended in defeat.
Just Fontaine: Career Details
- Aspiring footballer Fontaine hails from Marrakech and is the progeny of a French father and Spanish mother. He made his way to Casablanca to attend the prestigious Lycée Lyautey.4
- At USM Casablanca, Fontaine began his amateur football career, which spanned from 1950 to 1953. He was recruited by Nice in 1953, where he scored an impressive 44 goals over the course of three seasons.
- In 1956, he joined forces with Raymond Kopa at Stade de Reims, where he tallied an astonishing 121 goals over six seasons. He won the Ligue 1 championship twice, in 1958 and 1960, and scored a total of 165 goals in 200 matches.
- Fontaine was also part of the team that reached the 1958-59 European Cup final against Real Madrid, where he was the season’s top scorer with ten goals.
- Fontaine’s record while wearing the French blue jersey is even more impressive. He made his debut on December 17, 1953, scoring a hat trick as France defeated Luxembourg 8-0. Over seven years, he netted 30 goals in 21 matches.
- Fontaine’s most famous performance was during the 1958 FIFA World Cup, where he scored an outstanding 13 goals in only six matches. This included putting four past defending champions West Germany.
- This feat made him the player with the highest number of goals ever scored at a single World Cup tournament, a record that still stands as of 2022. Fontaine’s accomplishments secured him the Golden Boot.
- He is currently tied with Lionel Messi as the fourth-highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history, with only Gerd Müller (14 goals), Ronaldo (15 goals), and Miroslav Klose (16 goals) ahead of him, each of whom played in at least two tournaments.
- Fontaine played his last match in July 1962, at the age of 28 years and 11 months, due to a recurring injury. He briefly managed the France national team in 1967 but was quickly replaced after two consecutive defeats in friendly matches.
- Fontaine also led Morocco to third place in the 1980 African Cup of Nations as the coach. He oversaw the emergence of such talented players as Badou Zaki, Mohammed Timoumi, and Aziz Bouderbala.
- While serving as the sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain F.C., he managed to take the club to the first division.
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