The man that score the first goal in World Cup history
The name of Lucien Laurent is engraved in golden letters in the annals of world football.
He is the first scorer in the World Cup. At the moment when the eyes are turned to Russia where is held the World Cup 2018, the memory of Lucien Laurent is reborn.
1930. The first World Cup in history is held in Uruguay. Mexico and France have the difficult task of opening the competition on 13th July at Estadio Pocitos. It was this day that Lucien Laurent chose to enter the rank of immortals. Served by Ernest Liberat, he executed a volley of the right foot and found the nets.
At the final whistle, France won (4-1). But the French have mainly remembered that the one called “Lulu” became the first player to score a goal in the World Cup.
“I had a simple joy” he said the scorer
“When I scored that goal, I had a simple joy, that of a normal scorer with his teammates. We just had to kiss or beat each other in the hand before starting the game. At the time, I did not even ask myself if it was the first goal of the World Cup. I did not realize,” said Lucien Laurent.
It was on December 10, 1907 that Lucien Laurent was born in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France. At the age of 14, he joined the Athletic Circle of Paris where his older brother was already evolving. In 1930, he joined FC Sochaux for two years before returning in 1935.
This finalist of the Coupe de France in 1928 with the CA Paris has notably worn the colours of the French Club (1932-1933), CA Paris (1933-1934), FC Mulhouse (1934-1935), Stade Rennes (1936-1937), RC Strasbourg (1937-1939) and RCFC Besancon (1943-1946).
In ten selections with the national team of France, Lucie Laurent scored two goals. When he tidied the crampons, this right winger turned into a coach. He directed Besancon from 1943 to 1950. It is also in this city that Lucien Laurent died on April 11, 2005 at the age of 97 years. But his name continues to live like the ball that never stops rolling on a football field.
