Just Fontaine's record of 13 goals in a single World Cup has stood for decades, but he never played in the tournament again after injury ended his career at the age of 28.

Just Fontaine's record 13 goals at a single World Cup is remarkable in itself. Now consider that he wasn't wearing his own boots, and wasn't supposed to be starting France's games. He didn't even get a Golden Boot trophy for being the 1958 tournament's top scorer - instead he was awarded an air rifle by a Swedish newspaper for being a "sharp shooter". His name comes up every four years as the benchmark for the latest crop of players - but for the rest of the time he is a great pub quiz answer. At the 2026 World Cup some of the best goalscorers on the planet are getting closer to him than others have managed in many decades since, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane locked in a fearsome battle for the Golden Boot. Since 1970, only three times has the World Cup top scorer bagged more than six goals at a tournament. Mbappe and Messi have eight already, while Erling Haaland has seven with Kane and Jude Bellingham one behind. Of course, an extra round of matches for the 48-team tournament will help these strikers as their teams go deep into the competition, with countries reaching the semi-finals guaranteed to play eight games. But even with that leg up, they are currently still some way behind the man who set the record in just six matches. Compared with those who have vainly chased his tournament record for the past 68 years, Fontaine is a relative unknown to modern audiences. While Pele, Messi et al are rightly regarded as the best male players ever, Fontaine is now a piece of trivia.