World Cup Records
Just Fontaine's 13 Goals at the 1958 World Cup — An Unbreakable Record
1958Just FontaineFrance
Published 2026-05-31
Exhibit Narrative
13 goals in 6 matches — averaging 2.17 goals per game, a rate impossible in the modern era.
Just Fontaine's 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden stands as one of football's most unbreakable records. The French striker achieved this in just 6 matches, averaging over 2 goals per game — a feat virtually impossible today due to modern defensive organisation, sports science, and tactical sophistication. No player has come close since. For context, Miroslav Klose holds the all-time World Cup scoring record with 16 goals, but spread across 24 matches across four tournaments (2002-2014). Fontaine's density of scoring in a single tournament remains unparalleled and is widely considered impossible to replicate in contemporary football.
Related Records
World Cup Records
Hakan Şükür's Fastest World Cup Goal — 10.8 Seconds
10.8 seconds — the fastest goal in World Cup history, scored in the third-place playoff vs South Korea.
World Cup RecordsHost Nation Advantage at the World Cup — What 2026 Means for USA, Mexico & Canada
Tier 3 hosts (ranked 11-20) have a 100% quarter-final rate historically — USA (15) and Mexico (16) fit this tier.
World Cup RecordsPelé Wins Three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970)
3 World Cup titles — the only player in history to achieve this.