French legend Laurent dies aged 97
PARIS, France -- Frenchman Lucien Laurent, who scored the first goal in World Cup history, has died aged 97.
A left winger, Laurent scored in the 19th minute in France's 4-1 defeat of Mexico in Montevideo on July 13, 1930.
"I did not realise it was the first World Cup goal ever scored," he once said in an interview with France Football magazine. "When I scored this goal, I was just simply happy."
Laurent was one of the first players to switch clubs, playing for nine teams in a 25-year career.
'Little Lulu', as he was nicknamed, scored twice in 10 appearances for France between 1930 and 1935.
He earned his first monthly salary of 2,200 old francs (about $380) when he signed for Peugeot-sponsored Sochaux in 1935 at a time when the carmaker was signing players from all over the country for the team.
Laurent, who was still occasionally playing in veterans teams in his 90s, enjoyed another moment of fame later in life when he kicked a ball with former England striker Gary Lineker for a BBC documentary.
