French football mourns Just Fontaine

Legendary France and Reims striker Just Fontaine has passed away aged 89. A 1959 European Cup finalist with Reims, Fontaine was renowned for the incredible scoring records he set during the 1950s, and still holds the record for the most goals at a single FIFA World Cup tournament.

Born in Marrakech, Morocco, Fontaine was spotted at USM Casablanca before joining Nice as a teenager in 1953 and helping the club win the Coupe de France in his first season and the league title two seasons later. Forty-two goals in 69 league appearances for Nice prompted Reims to bring Fontaine to the Champagne region, where the prolific centre-forward experienced the best period of his career.

Fontaine was the top scorer in the 1958/59 European Cup with ten goals as Reims reached the final but lost to Real Madrid for the second time, going down 2-0 in Stuttgart. However, he was a three-time French champion with the club and twice top scorer in the top flight, hitting 34 in 1957/58 and 28 two seasons later.

His national team record was even more impressive, with 30 goals in just 21 appearances. 'Justo' is globally renowned as the top scorer at a World Cup with 13 goals in the 1958 event in Sweden, where France reached the semi-finals.

Fontaine turned his hand to coaching with a brief spell in charge of the national team in 1967 and also worked as Paris Saint-Germain's sporting director when they were first promoted to Ligue 1 in 1974, later leading Morocco to third place at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. A co-founder of the French players' union UNFP in 1961, he remained a passionate observer of French and international football.

A minute of silence will be observed this weekend ahead of all matches in France. French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo said: "Today, French football is in mourning. It has lost one of its legends."

Just Fontaine in 2013 with his trophy for finishing top scorer at the 1958 World CupAFP via Getty Images