Who scored the world cup first goal?

Lucien Laurent etched his name in the history of world football when he scored the “world cup first goal” on July 13, 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay. With a beautiful volley that helped France win 4-1 against Mexico, he not only opened the first FIFA World Cup but also created an immortal moment in the king sport. However, few people know that behind that historic goal is a humble man, living a simple life and always remembering his extraordinary journey in Uruguay. In this article, Premiumsoccertips.net will help you learn more about Lucien Laurent and his first world cup goal.

About Lucien Laurent

Lucien Laurent, born on 10 December 1907 in Saint-Maur-des-Fosses, France, was a football midfielder with a modest height of 1.62m and a weight of 65kg. He earned 10 caps for the French national team, renowned for his exceptional technique and masterful ball control. Laurent made his mark in football history thanks to his prominent role and significant contribution on the field.

Laurent’s career in France

Laurent’s time with the French national team includes several key matches:

• On August 1, 1930, Brazil triumphed over France with a 3-2 victory in an unofficial match.
• France suffered a 2-0 loss to Portugal on February 23, 1930.
• On April 13, 1930, Belgium dominated France with a 6-1 victory.
• France bounced back with a 4-1 win against Mexico on July 13, 1930.
• However, they faced a 1-0 defeat to Argentina on July 15, 1930.
• On March 15, 1931, France secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Germany.
• France enjoyed a commanding 5-2 win over England on May 14, 1931.
• A close contest with the Netherlands ended in a 4-3 defeat for France on November 29, 1931.
• France played to a 3-3 draw with Switzerland on March 20, 1932.
• Italy defeated France 2-1 on April 10, 1932.
• France finished with a 2-0 win over Hungary on May 19, 1935.

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Lucien Laurent, the World Cup’s first goalscorer

Firsts are never forgotten. When he scored the first goal in FIFA World Cup history, in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo on 13 July 1930, France’s Lucien Laurent led his team to a 4-1 victory over Mexico and cemented his place in the football record books. Yet, in his deplorably modest manner, Laurent barely spoke about his legendary contribution to the game in the years that followed.

Vivid memories of the World Cup journey

Called up ten times by the national team, he ended his playing and coaching career at Besancon before buying a bar, where he rarely discussed his 19th-minute volley against Mexico. “Liberati put the ball in the net”, was all he would say if the subject was raised, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Memories of his goal first came flooding back at a dinner hosted by the organising committee of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy. “I knew he played for France and participated in the World Cup, but that was it”, says his son Marc, with whom Laurent spent his final years.

By the time France 1998 rolled around, the former Sochaux player was almost a national treasure, speaking at length as he delved into his memories and recalled stories that were part of World Cup lore, such as the team’s trip to Uruguay on the Italian ocean liner Conte Verde, which set sail from Villefranche-sur-Mer on 19 June 1930. “It took fifteen days to get there and 15 days to return”, Laurent recalled.

An Uruguayan adventure

The journey to Uruguay and the historic goal

The French team were on board with Belgian and Romanian players and a number of dignitaries, including Laurent’s fellow Frenchman Jules Rimet, then president of FIFA and founder of the World Cup.

“The French Football Federation had to put together a team because some of the players they had picked had to withdraw”, Laurent explains. “Their bosses wouldn’t give them two months off. I was working for Peugeot at the time, as were three of my teammates: my brother Jean, Andre Maschinot and Etienne Mattler”.

The trip went smoothly, the peace and quiet of the journey broken only by the jogging of the three teams on deck.

France played their opening match of the tournament at Pocitos, home of Penarol. Built specifically for the tournament, the now-legendary Estadio Centenario was not ready to host the match.

“When I scored, my first goal of the tournament and my first goal for France, we congratulated each other but we didn’t jump for joy like they do now”, said Laurent, who has been somewhat critical of modern football, adding: “There is too much bad behaviour, too much cheating and not enough respect for opponents and referees. Today, international players are pampered and treated with extraordinary care, akin to how children are nurtured. Everything is done for them, while we have to do everything ourselves”.

Difficulties and lasting legacy

In France’s second match of the tournament, a narrow 1-0 defeat to Argentina, Lucien Laurent endured an ankle injury that significantly hindered his performance. In an era when substitutions were not permitted, Laurent had no choice but to play on despite his injury, shifting to the left wing where he could conserve energy and limit the strain on his ankle. This injury not only limited his effectiveness on the field but also highlighted the challenging conditions faced by players of that era, where perseverance and adaptability were essential in the absence of modern game regulations. The injury kept him out of France’s third and final match against Chile, which ended in a 1-0 defeat.

He also spoke with emotion as he recalled his second and final international goal, against England in a friendly on 14 May 1931. “We were still amateurs,” he said, “while the English were professionals.”

Laurent passed away on April 11, 2005, in Besançon, yet his legacy as a pivotal figure in World Cup history remains unforgettable.

Wrapping things up

Lucien Laurent, with his world cup first goal, left an indelible mark on football history. His goal against Mexico at the 1930 World Cup was not only a milestone, but also the beginning of legendary stories in the king of sports. Though he lived a life of simplicity, Laurent’s legacy endures, a timeless reminder of football’s beauty and the lasting impact of its defining first moments. Laurent was not just a goalscorer, he was a symbol of enthusiasm, sportsmanship and humility – the values ​​that never change in the World Cup.

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