Lucien LAURENT

Born in the Val-de-Marne region of France, Lucien Laurent is considered as a "national treasure" as he was the first-ever goalscorer at a World Cup. On 13th July 1930, during the first World Cup tournament organised in Uruguay, he scored with a volley from a cross by Ernest Liberati in the 19th minute, the first goal of the competition coming in a 4-1 victory against Mexico. During his international career, he was awarded 10 caps, scoring twice for his country. He was also called up for the 1934 World Cup, but he would spend the tournament on the substitute's bench. He was a diminutive, but pacy striker, and he began his footballing journey with CA Paris, alongside his older brother, Jean, in 1921. In 1930, he signed for FC Sochaux, and worked in the Peugeot factory at the same time as playing football. Thanks to the understanding of his employers, he was given time off work to play in the 1930 World Cup. 1932 saw the beginning of the professional football era in French football, and he would begin his career as a professional footballer with Club Français, who would finish in 8th place in Group A of the First Division. The following season saw him return to CA Paris, but that experience would be a disappointing one for Laurent, his team being relegated to the Second Division at the end of the campaign. The next season would see him joining Mulhouse, where his club would end the season in 6th spot, and Laurent finished with a tally of 10 goals. For the 1935/1936 season, he returned to play for Sochaux (finishing 4th in the First Division). Stade Rennais signed him thereafter, and he would link up once more with his brother, who had been playing for Rennes since 1934. Lucien Laurent's stay at Rennes would only last for one season. The Red and Blacks were unfortunately relegated at the end of it, finishing second-bottom in the First Division. He still had a decent season from a personal perspective, scoring 11 goals in 32 appearances. Thereafter, he played for two years at Strasbourg, before his career was put on hold by the Second World War. During the conflict, he was called up as a Reserve, and didn't go back to playing football until 1943. He would get an opening to play at Besançon, staying there as Player/Manager until 1950. After a rich career in football, he would open and run the Brasserie des Sports for 22 years until retirement. He passed away at the ripe old age of 97, the last surviving member of the French team who played at the 1930 World Cup.