Frenchman Just Fontaine, who scored the most goals in just one World Cup, with 13 in Sweden’s 1958 World Cup, has died at the age of 89, his family told AFP on Wednesday. In the Cup in which Fontaine set the record, France reached the semifinals for the first time in its history, when it was defeated by Brazil, led by Pelé, by 5-2.
In the title decision, Brazil thrashed Sweden 5-2 and won its first world title. In the match for third place, the French defeated Germany 6-3. With Fontaine dead, only three players from the 1958 France squad are still alive: Dominique Colonna, Robert Mouynet and Bernard Chiarelli.
Born in Marrakesh, Fontaine was not considered to play in the World Cup in Sweden because Thadée Cisowski would be in charge of the attack, who suffered an injury at the last moment. In addition to a record 13 goals and the historic semi-final for the country, Just Fontaine had a great career in clubs, with four French champion titles (one with Nice, three with Reims), two French Cups (Nice in 1954 and Reims in 1958) and a European Cup (the current Champions League) final in 1959, in which Reims were beaten 2-0 by Di Stéfano, Puskas and Kopa’s Real Madrid.
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