Which player holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup tournament?

Just Fontaine holds the record for most goals in a single World Cup tournament, scoring 13 for France in 1958.

Fontaine scored in all six of France’s matches in Sweden, including four goals against defending champions West Germany in the third-place play-off. His total earned him the tournament’s Golden Boot and remains the highest single-tournament tally in men’s World Cup history.

The record is especially remarkable because Fontaine played only one World Cup. France did not win the tournament; Brazil became champion, powered by a 17-year-old Pelé. That can cause confusion, since Pelé is more famous for his overall World Cup achievements, while Fontaine owns this specific scoring record.

For comparison, Sándor Kocsis scored 11 goals for Hungary in 1954, Gerd Müller scored 10 for West Germany in 1970, and Ronaldo scored eight for Brazil in 2002. Fontaine’s 13 goals came in only six games, giving him an average of more than two goals per match.