Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup, netting 13 goals in just six matches.

Just Fontaine's performance at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden is one of the most remarkable statistical anomalies in sports history. Over the course of six matches, he scored 13 goals, including a four-goal performance against West Germany in the third-place play-off. This remains the highest individual tally in a single edition of the tournament, surpassing Sandor Kocsis's previous record of 11 goals set in 1954.Fontaine's journey was unlikely because he was not initially meant to start for France. He only entered the lineup after his teammate Rene Bliard suffered an injury during training. Furthermore, Fontaine had to borrow a pair of size 9 boots from teammate Stephane Bruey because his own footwear had worn out before the competition began. He proceeded to score a hat-trick in the opening game against Paraguay and never looked back.Since 1958, the closest any player has come to this record was Gerd Muller, who scored 10 goals in 1970. In the 21st century, the Golden Boot winner typically finishes with only six or seven goals. This decline is attributed to more sophisticated defensive systems, such as the evolution of the 'Catenaccio' style and modern zonal marking, which limit the space available to elite strikers.Fontaine's efficiency was staggering, averaging 2.17 goals per game during the tournament. To put this in perspective, modern legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have never scored more than eight goals across an entire World Cup career. FIFA officially recognized his achievement in 2004 when Pele named him one of the 125 greatest living soccer players.