Just Fontaine

Footballer and manager, born in Marakesh, Morocco. He began his career with Nice and won League and Cup winner's medals before making his international debut against Hungary in 1956. He established an enduring record when, playing for France in the final stages of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, he scored 13 goals, including four against West Germany in the play-off match to determine third place. His career was cut short at the age of 27 when he broke a leg for a second time. He became president of the French Footballers' Union and had a brief spell in charge of the national team and at club Paris St Germain.

He holds the record for most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup finals tournament, with 13 in 1958. He has also scored the third most goals of any player in the world cup finals overall, beaten only by Gerd Müller who played in two world cup finals tournaments and scored 14 goals and Ronaldo who has played in four and has scored 15 goals. Nice recruited him in 1953, and he went on to score 44 goals in three seasons for the club. In 1956, he moved on to Stade de Reims to replace Raymond Kopa, where he scored 121 goals in six seasons. In total, Fontaine scored 165 goals in 200 matches in the Ligue 1, and twice won the championship; In seven years, he scored 30 goals in 21 matches for the national team. However, Fontaine will best be remembered for his 1958 FIFA World Cup performance, where he scored 13 goals in just six matches - a feat which included putting four past the holders West Germany.

Preceded by: Sándor Kocsis

FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe 1958

Succeeded by: Leonel Sánchez, Garrincha, Vavá, Valentin Ivanov, Flórián Albert and Dražan Jerković