He also took part in the team that got to the 1958–59 European Cup final against Real Madrid, being that season's top scorer with ten goals.

However, he will best be remembered for his 1958 FIFA World Cup performance, where he scored 13 goals in just six matches – a feat that included putting four past defending champions West Germany.

[9] Fontaine played his last match in July 1962, being forced to retire early (28 years and 11 months old) because of a recurring leg injury.

As coach of Morocco, he led the Atlas Lions to a third place finish in the 1980 African Cup of Nations,[10] overseeing the emergence of such players as Badou Zaki, Mohammed Timoumi and Aziz Bouderbala.

He criticized the performance of the French team in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, particularly on the lackluster play of the forwards.