Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals at 1958 World Cup, dies

PARIS (AP):

No one could beat Just Fontaine's World Cup scoring record during his lifetime.

His 13 goals in a single tournament was set with France in 1958 and has withstood 16 World Cups since.

Fontaine's death was confirmed today by his former club Reims and the French football federation. He was 89.

The closest anyone has come to Fontaine's tally was Gerd Muller, who scored 10 for West Germany in 1970. Kylian Mbappe scored eight at last year's World Cup.

Fontaine took six games to achieve his feat at the World Cup in Sweden, shortly after winning a French league and French Cup double with Reims and leading the league with 34 goals.

"Justo is, and will remain a legend of the French team," France coach Didier Deschamps said.

Entering the World Cup tournament, the Moroccan-born Fontaine was a little-known forward outside of the French league. Yet he tormented opponents with his lightning speed and finishing touch -- and even with someone else's boots. He had to borrow a pair of cleats after damaging his own in practice.

Fontaine scored four goals in the third-place game against West Germany, but could have had five if he had taken the penalty kick.

Fontaine set the record when FIFA did not present a specific award for the tournament's top scorer -- now called the Golden Boot.

Fontaine was modestly but symbolically rewarded.

"All I got was a rifle from a Swedish newspaper for being top marksman," Fontaine told The Associated Press in a 2006 interview.

In addition to his feats with the national team, Fontaine won the French league title four times, the French Cup, and reached the final of the 1959 European Cup during his club career with USM Casablanca, Nice and Reims.

After he retired, Fontaine co-founded France's players' union and served as chairman for a few years. He also briefly coached France's national team before stints with Luchon, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Toulouse and the Moroccan national team.