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PLATINI

Michel François Platini
FRANCE · FRA · ATTACKING MIDFIELD · #10
21 JUN 1955 · Nancy · Saint-Étienne · Juventus
Le Roi
FRANCE · #10

🌎 WORLD CUP RECORD

0
TITLES
14
MATCHES
5
GOALS
YEARHOSTAPPSGOALSRESULT
1978Argentina31 GROUP STAGE
1982Spain52 4TH PLACE
1986Mexico62 3RD PLACE
█ ATTRIBUTES
PACE 76
SHOOTING 90
PASSING 93
DRIBBLING 88
DEFENDING 58
PHYSICAL 74

⚡ DEFINING MOMENTS

▲ 1982 · Seville, the cruellest night
France led West Germany 3-1 in extra time of the semi-final, Platini orchestrating the finest football of the tournament. The Germans clawed it back to 3-3 and won the first World Cup shoot-out, and the contest is best remembered for Harald Schumacher's unpunished assault on Patrick Battiston. Platini was magnificent and went home with nothing but fourth place.
▲ 1986 · A birthday goal against Brazil
On his 31st birthday in Guadalajara, Platini swept in the equaliser to make it 1-1 against Brazil in a quarter-final since canonised as one of the World Cup's great matches. France won the shoot-out 4-3 — though Platini himself dragged his spot-kick wide — and went on to a third-place finish.
▲ 1986 · The chip against Italy
In the second round he dinked a delicate finish past the holders Italy in a 2-0 win, the captain at the height of his powers between his three straight Ballon d'Or wins. It was the goal of a player who saw the game a beat before everyone else.

📜 CAREER TIMELINE

1978
Plays his first World Cup in Argentina and scores in the 2-1 defeat to the hosts as France exit in the first round.
1982
Captains France to the semi-final in Spain, lost 3-3 to West Germany on penalties after leading in extra time; France finish fourth.
1984
Drives France to the European Championship on home soil and finishes top scorer with nine goals, the peak of his career.
1985
Wins a third consecutive Ballon d'Or, having taken the award in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
1986
Leads France to third place in Mexico, scoring against Italy and Brazil before a semi-final defeat by West Germany again.
1987
Retires from playing at 32, France's record scorer with 41 goals in 72 caps.
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█ THE ALMANAC SPEAKS
PROF. INKSWORTH:

Platini was the most complete attacking midfielder of his age — three Ballons d'Or in a row, a European Championship won almost single-handedly, a passing range the almanac still measures others against. The World Cup, though, withheld its prize: two semi-finals lost to West Germany, a fourth and a third, and never the trophy. He remains the great should-have of the 1980s, a king who never wore the only crown he wanted.

  • He went to three World Cups and lost two semi-finals to West Germany — the 1982 epic in Seville on penalties, then the 1986 last four — without ever reaching a final.
  • He scored his 1986 equaliser against Brazil on his 31st birthday, then missed his penalty in the shoot-out France won anyway.
  • Three straight Ballons d'Or (1983-85) and nine goals at Euro 1984, yet his five World Cup goals never carried France past third.
Ready.
Zone: Historical