FIFA Men's World Cup

World Cup's 101 Most Memorable Moments: Just Fontaine scores 13 goals

Updated Sep. 6, 2022 2:25 p.m. ET

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By Doug McIntyre
FOX Sports Soccer Writer

Editor's note: Each day between now and the kickoff of the first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 20, we'll unveil a different memory from World Cup history. The countdown from 101 continues with Just Fontaine's record-setting scoring run.

It’s hard to process, really.

How could one player score 13 goals in a single World Cup? Yet that’s exactly what French forward Just Fontaine did in six games at the 1958 tournament in Sweden, setting what remains as perhaps the most unbreakable record in sports.

Let’s put the accomplishment in context. England’s Harry Kane won the Golden Boot at 2018 World Cup by scoring six times in six matches. At Brazil 2014, Colombia’s James Rodríguez led the pack with six in five. It’s not like defenses weren’t tight in the old days, either. Four years after Fontaine’s feat, nobody scored more than four goals. Indeed, over 21 World Cups all-time, only two other players — Switzerland’s Sándor Kocsis and Germany’s Gerd Müller — ever broke into double digits. 

To this day, Müller, fellow German Miroslav Klose and Brazilian great Ronaldo are the only players with more World Cup goals — and all played in multiple tournaments. The 1958 event was Fontaine’s one and only trip to the biggest stage. Suffice to say he made it count.

Fontaine fires record 13 goals

Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in six matches for France at the 1958 World Cup.

One of the leading soccer journalists in North America, Doug McIntyre has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

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