On June 8, 1958, France commenced its journey in the World Cup hosted by Sweden, a tournament that would etch itself into the annals of football history. The real surprise of the match was not merely France's commanding victory over Paraguay with a score of 7-3, but the extraordinary performance of French player Just Fontaine, who netted three goals against Paraguay. Fontaine was initially overlooked for selection due to a knee injury that had sidelined him for several months leading up to the tournament. However, just before the French team set off for Sweden, René Bliard sustained an injury, prompting the last-minute inclusion of Fontaine into the squad. In a twist of fate, during the final training session, Fontaine's shoe tore, forcing him to borrow a pair from a teammate, which he wore during the match against Paraguay.
Despite these unforeseen circumstances, Fontaine, who was returning from a significant knee surgery and playing in borrowed shoes, astonishingly managed to score three goals against Paraguay. His remarkable run continued as he scored two goals against Yugoslavia, one against Scotland, two against Northern Ireland in the quarterfinals, one against Brazil in the semifinals, and four against West Germany in the third-place playoff. This phenomenal tally of 13 goals in just six matches made Fontaine the first player in history to achieve such a feat in a single World Cup tournament. However, his career was cut short by another injury in 1962, leading to his retirement, though he left the sport with the confidence that his record of 13 goals would not stand unchallenged for long. Football enthusiasts globally, including Fontaine himself, have since awaited the emergence of a player capable of surpassing his record of 13 goals in a World Cup.
As the World Cups rolled on from 1962 in Chile to the 2022 tournament in Qatar—the last World Cup Fontaine would witness before his passing in 2023—his record remained unbroken. Even as numerous legendary players dazzled audiences with their scoring prowess, none could surpass Fontaine's remarkable achievement. In addition to his World Cup record, Fontaine also scored three goals in his debut international match for France against Luxembourg on December 17, 1953, and amassed 165 goals in 200 matches played in the French league.
Born in Marrakech, Morocco, to a French father and a Spanish mother, Fontaine developed a passion for football in the streets of Marrakech. His journey began with the US Marocaine club in Marrakech before he advanced to play professionally in France for Toulouse and Reims, ultimately representing the French national team.
As reported by almasryalyoum.com.
