World Cup football star fall again. France’s legendary footballer Just Fontaine died at the age of 89.
Fontaine was born on August 18, 1933 in Toulouse, France. His father was French and his mother was Spanish. Born in France but moved to Casablanca, Morocco as a child. He started playing football at the USM Casablanca club. Returned to France in 1953 to play for Nice. Fontaine quickly caught the eye for his speed and outstanding goal-scoring ability. He scored a hat-trick against Luxembourg in his debut match for the national team. In 1956, he signed the Treaty of Reims. Despite this, he was not initially called up to the French team for the 1958 World Cup. He got a chance at the last moment. Fontaine set a precedent by scoring 13 goals on the same World Cup stage as the late football emperor Pele’s debut. However, before the start of the World Cup, he was in serious trouble. During practice, his boots are torn. Played in a pair of boots borrowed from a teammate and made the feat. Brazil beat France 5-2 in the semi-finals, but one goal was scored by the French legend. France beat West Germany 6-3 in the third and fourth-place match. Fontaine scored four goals alone.
He added his name to the list of highest goalscorers in the history of the World Cup. But no one has scored 13 goals in a World Cup. He played only 6 matches in the 1958 World Cup.
From 1953 to 1960, he scored 30 goals for France in just 21 matches over these seven years.
He also scored 62 goals in 48 matches at Casablanca, 42 goals in 69 matches at Nice, and 122 goals in 131 matches at Reims. He also led the team to the final of the European Cup in 1959.
He retired from football in 1962 at the age of 28 due to broken bones in both legs. After leaving football, he focused on coaching. He was the coach of France in two matches in 1967. It was under his coaching that Paris Saint-Germain Football Club rose to the French League One in 1974.
In 2004 he was among the 125 living legendary footballers selected by Pele.