Chondroblastoma of the metatarsal is a very rare condition. To our knowledge fewer than 20 cases have been reported in the world literature. We report a 34-year-old man with chondroblastoma of the first metatarsal. The clinical, radiological and pathological aspects of the tumor are discussed. On pathological examination, there were no typical findings suggestive of benign chondroblastoma such as chicken wire calcification. Therefore, it was difficult to determine whether the eosinophilic matrix observed in the stroma was osteoid or cartilaginous tissue, and differentiation from osteoblastoma was needed. However, the follow-up period of this patient was prolonged, and pain that was possibly due to pathologic fracture had occurred during this period, suggesting that these factors could have promoted fibrosis. The patient was treated by curettage and autologous bone grafting. At 4 years after surgery, there has been no evidence of recurrent tumor.