Lionel Messi Nears Just Fontaine's 78-Year-Old World Cup Goal Record

Kathmandu. Argentine captain Lionel Messi's performance in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 has been impressive. Argentina has scored a total of 5 goals in the first two matches of the tournament. All five goals were scored by Messi. After scoring 5 goals, Messi not only broke the all-time record of 16 goals by Germany's Miroslav Klose, but also drew everyone's attention to a 78-year-old record considered the toughest in football history. That record is the 'most goals in a single World Cup' of 13 goals set by French veteran striker Just Fontaine in the 1958 Sweden World Cup.

• Who was the record holder Just Fontaine?

Just Fontaine was born in 1933 in Morocco (then a French colony). He was a sharp, fast-paced striker with incredible finishing ability. He had already proven his goal-scoring ability while playing professional football for the French club Reims. However, before the 1958 World Cup, he was not even the first-choice player for the French team. Fontaine got an unexpected opportunity to play in the World Cup only after the team's main striker Rene Bliard was injured.

• Made 'Unbreakable' Record by Borrowing Shoes

Before the start of the 1958 Sweden World Cup, Fontaine's own football boots were torn. At that time, not many players had sponsors or spare shoes like today. He borrowed shoes from his teammate Stephane Bliard and played the World Cup matches. Borrowing shoes from another player, Fontaine scored a hat-trick in the first match against Paraguay. He then scored 2 goals against Yugoslavia and 1 goal against Scotland, scoring 6 goals in the group stage itself. However, France was defeated by Yugoslavia. Fontaine scored 2 goals against Northern Ireland in the quarter-finals and 1 goal against Brazil in the semi-finals. At that time, France was helpless against Brazil, where Pele was emerging. After losing in the semi-finals, Fontaine scored 4 goals alone in the third-place play-off against West Germany, reaching that incredible figure of 13 goals in 6 matches, which no one has broken even today after 78 years.

• Interesting Facts Related to Fontaine's Record

1. 13 Goals Without Penalties

Today's strikers often increase their goal count by scoring penalties. But none of the 13 goals scored by Just Fontaine in the 1958 World Cup were penalties. All his goals were scored during 'open play', i.e., during regular play on the field.

2. Had No Place in the Team Until Just Before the Match Started

Just before the World Cup started, it was not certain that Fontaine would be included in the main French team. He went to Sweden only as a backup player for France's main striker Rene Bliard. However, a few days before the World Cup started, Bliard was seriously injured during practice, and by luck, Fontaine got a chance in the starting eleven.

3. Rifle as a Prize Instead of a Golden Boot

Nowadays, FIFA gives a grand Golden Boot award to the top scorer of the World Cup. But in 1958, FIFA had not yet officially started giving such a boot. Therefore, a local newspaper in Sweden presented Fontaine with a unique hunting rifle as a prize for being the top scorer of the tournament.

4. That Historic Friendship with Pele

The 1958 World Cup is known for the emergence of Just Fontaine for France and the 17-year-old Pele for Brazil. Although Brazil defeated France in the semi-finals, a very good relationship was formed between Fontaine and Pele on the field. Fontaine later said in interviews, 'When I saw Pele play, I felt I could hang up my boots, because the new king of football had arrived.'

5. Fontaine's Own Statement About the Record

Regarding his record never being broken, Just Fontaine himself made a humorous comment in an interview in 2014. He said, 'For a player to break my record, they would have to score an average of 2 goals in each of the 7 matches of a single World Cup. This is almost impossible in modern football. I think this record will remain in my name forever.'

6. Only One World Cup Opportunity

As great as Just Fontaine's record is, its other side is equally disappointing. France, with the most lethal form in history, did not even reach the final of that World Cup. In the semi-finals, France met the strong Brazil, where 17-year-old Pele shone. France was reduced to 10 players after French defender Robert Jonquet had to leave the field injured (substitutions were not allowed then), and France lost to Brazil 5-2. Fontaine's team did not get to play the final and had to settle for third place. Even greater disappointment was yet to come in his career. Immediately after the World Cup, Fontaine suffered from serious injuries (broken leg) repeatedly. Due to injuries, this player, who stunned the world in the 1958 World Cup, was forced to retire from football in 1962 at the young age of 28. As a result, the deadliest striker in history only got to play one World Cup in his life. He did not get a chance to play a second World Cup, nor did he get to lift the World Cup trophy. However, in his only participation, the legacy of 13 goals he left behind still stands as the tallest monument in football history.

• Reason for Hope in Messi

It is true that Messi still needs to score 9 more goals to equal Just Fontaine's 78-year-old World Cup record, which is very challenging. After Germany's Gerd Muller scored 10 goals in 1970, no one has scored even 9 goals in a single World Cup since then. France's Mbappe, who shone in 2022, scored only 8 goals. Before that, only Brazil's Ronaldo had scored that many goals in a single match. Messi himself has a record of 7 goals. However, considering the current World Cup equation and Argentina's strong position, breaking that record may not be impossible for Messi.

1. Opportunity in Remaining Matches

Argentina still has one more group stage match to play. It is considered very easy for Argentina, ranked number one, to play against Jordan, ranked 63rd in FIFA rankings. On the other hand, the team has secured at least one knockout (top 32) match with excellent performance. Argentina, which is almost certain to go as group winners, is likely to play against Cape Verde or Uruguay next.

2. Journey to the Final and Number of Matches

If Argentina maintains its pace and keeps winning, Messi will get to play 4 more matches: Round of 16, Quarter-finals (Top 8), Semi-finals (Top 4), and the Final or Third-place play-off.

3. Possibility of Average Goals Per Match

Messi scoring five goals in the first 2 matches is also a rare occurrence. So far, only five players are in this list besides him. Hungary's striker Sándor Kocsis scored 7 goals in the first two matches in 1954, while four others scored five goals in 2 matches. When England's Harry Kane made this possible in 2018, the record was only in 1958 before that.