Former France striker Just Fontaine, who holds the record for the most goals scored at a single men’s World Cup, has passed away at the age of 89.
Fontaine scored 13 goals in only six matches for Les Bleus at the 1958 tournament as his side came third.
In total, he netted 30 goals in 21 games at international level between 1953 and 1960.
The former forward played for USM Casablanca, Nice and Reims at club level during his career. Reims posted on social media: “To his family, his loved ones, the SDR sends its most sincere condolences.”
Nice have also confirmed plans to honour Fontaine before their Ligue 1 game with Auxerre on Friday night.
Fontaine helped Reims win three league titles and reach the European Cup final in 1959, where they were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid.
The striker ended as the competition’s top scorer that season with ten strikes.
He scored six of France’s 11 group stage goals in 1958 as they beat Paraguay and Scotland either side of defeat to Yugoslavia, topping Group 2.
He would then net a double in a 4-0 quarter final victory over Northern Ireland before a solitary strike against Brazil in a 5-2 exit in the final four.
Fontaine finished the tournament in glittering style, striking four times in the 6-3 victory over West Germany in the third place playoff.
His 13 goals tie Fontaine with Lionel Messi in the all time men’s World Cup scoring charts, behind Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo (15) and Gerd Muller (14).
Fontaine was also included in Pele’s FIFA 100 list in 2004 which revealed the “greatest living footballers” in the opinion of the legendary Brazilian.
