Just Fontaine 🌐

Just Fontaine was born in Marrakech, French Morocco, to a French father and a Spanish mother. Educated at the Lycée Mangin in Marrakech, Fontaine began playing football for USM Casablanca, winning the Moroccan championship in 1952. Moving to France in 1953 to join OGC Nice, he scored 42 goals in three seasons and won the Coupe de France before signing with Stade de Reims in 1956 to replace Real Madrid-bound Raymond Kopa.

At Reims, Fontaine blossomed into one of Europe's most lethal goalscorers, leading the club to three French Division 1 championships and the 1959 European Cup final. Blessed with explosive acceleration, brilliant positional sense, and lethal finishing with both feet and head, Fontaine was virtually unstoppable inside the penalty box.

His defining moment occurred at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Wearing borrowed boots from teammate Stéphane Bruey, Fontaine scored in all six matches: three against Paraguay, two against Yugoslavia, one against Scotland, two against Northern Ireland, one against Pelé's Brazil in the semi-final, and four goals in the third-place match against defending champions West Germany. His 13 goals in a single World Cup remains an immortal record in international football. Forced to retire in 1962 after recurring double leg fractures, Fontaine co-founded the French professional players' union (UNFP) to protect athletes' rights.