World Cup 2026: Just Fontaine, the greatest World Cup goal scorer

Compared to those who have vainly chased the tournament record over the past 68 years, Fontaine is a relatively unknown name to modern audiences. While Pele, Messi and others are rightfully considered the best male players ever, Fontaine is now a minor thing.

But this is to belittle Fontaine’s remarkable life and career; If Fontaine played today, he would represent a different country.

The 2026 quarter-final between France and Morocco was the Just Fontaine derby. He was born in Marrakesh in August 1933; At that time, Morocco was under French protectorate.

Morocco gained independence two years before the 1958 World Cup, but at the time Fontaine was an international footballer playing in the French leagues and thus represented Les Bleus.

And as sports journalist and historian Philip Barker explained to BBC Sport, if all the plans had been made for France, Fontaine would never have started the World Cup matches in Sweden.

“He wasn’t actually the first choice; he was a teammate.” [Rene Bliard] “He got injured in the warm-up game,” explains Barker. “It was a last minute substitution, he had to borrow shoes [from team-mate Stephane Bruey] as he had nothing to suit him for the opening game.

“Now imagine something like this, very different from what we have today.

“Fontaine had surgery on his meniscus [cartilage in his knee] He had doubts about the tournament throughout the season. However, this meant he was a newcomer to the tournament; “Many other players had had a long, difficult season.”