Just Fontaine dead at 89: Tributes paid to France legend who holds World Cup record for most goals in single tournament
FRANCE legend Just Fontaine has died at the age of 89.
The former Nice striker still holds a surely unbreakable World Cup record of 13 goals from six games.
GettyJust Fontaine, a France and World Cup legend, has died aged 89[/caption]
AFPJust Fontaine goes down as a footballing icon, up there with Pele in terms of goals per game[/caption]
Just Fontaine passed away at the age of 89 at his home in ToulouseGetty
Fontaine managed the feat in the 1958 tournament, with Les Bleus reaching a then-best-ever third place in Sweden.
On Wednesday, it was revealed the legendary forward had passed away overnight in his Toulouse home.
Fans and former players have flocked to pay their respects after the tragic news.
Fontaine scored an outrageous 30 goals from just 21 international games for France, before his career was cruelly cut short by injury.
The Morocco-born ace also smashed 226 goals in just 248 leagues games during his time at USM Casablanca, Nice and Reims – helping the latter reach the 1959 European Cup final.
Fontaine moved into the world of management after retiring.
He briefly led the France national team in 1967, before a season at Luchon.
The ex-striker was Paris Saint-Germain chief between 1973 and 1976, before a season at Toulouse.
His final managerial position came between 1979 and 1981 – when he managed the Morocco national team.
To this day, his 13 World Cup goals see him sit fourth in the all-time tournament rankings.
Only Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo (15) and Gerd Muller (14) have more.. and they played in more than one tournament, unlike Fontaine.
Old club PSG led the tributes, tweeting: “A thought for Just Fontaine. A monument of French football has left us.
“It’s a sad day for lovers of Paris Saint-Germain, a club he led to the first division 50 years ago.”
Reims added: “A star of French football, an outstanding scorer, a Reims legend.
“To his family, his loved ones, Reims sends its most sincere condolences.”
The clubs were joined by thousands of fans sending messages of respect to a true “legend” of football.
