Michel Platini

Michel François Platini{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michel-platini-a-great-attacker-forced-on-to-the-defensive-7831796.html |title=Michel Platini: A great attacker forced on to the defensive |first=Brian |last=Viner |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=9 June 2012 |access-date=9 March 2025}} was born on 21 June 1955 in Jœuf, Meurthe-et-Moselle, the son of Aldo and Anna (née Piccinelli), both of Italian ancestry. Anna's family has its roots in the province of Belluno, while Aldo's father, Francesco Platini, was an immigrant from Agrate Conturbia, in the province of Novara, and settled in France shortly after the end of the First World War.{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/06/21/buon-compleanno-monsieur-calcio.html|title=Buon compleanno, Monsieur Calcio|work=Archivio – la Repubblica.it|date=21 June 2005|access-date=24 December 2012|archive-date=24 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111430/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2005/06/21/buon-compleanno-monsieur-calcio.html|url-status=live}} Aldo was a professional footballer and a long-time director for AS Nancy, the club where Michel started his professional career.

After performing poorly in the final of a 1969 young footballers' competition, Michel Platini attracted attention at 16 years of age in a Coupe Gambardella tournament match with an impressive display for Jœuf juniors against a Metz junior side. Platini was called up for a trial with Metz, but missed out on the opportunity due to injury, and was not immediately invited back after the Metz coach moved to another club. He returned to regional league football with Jœuf. Another trial at Metz went horribly wrong when a breathing test on a spirometer caused Platini to faint. The doctor's verdict on Platini's breathing difficulties and weak heart ended any hopes Platini had of playing for his boyhood favorites. He then joined the reserve side of his father's club Nancy in September 1972, and became friends with team goalkeeper Jean-Michel Moutier.

Platini was quick to make a big impression at his new club, scoring a hat-trick in a reserve team match against Wittelsheim. Further outstanding displays put him in contention for a place in the Nancy first team. His introduction to the first-team squad was inauspicious. On the substitutes' bench for a match against Valenciennes, Platini was spat on and hit by various objects thrown from the crowd when a fight broke out in the stands. Playing for the reserves a few days later, a hefty challenge from an opponent left Platini with a bad ankle injury. His season would finish on a more positive note, and he would go on to make his league debut against Nîmes on 3 May 1973.

In March 1974, he suffered a setback when he sustained a double fracture of his left arm in a match at OGC Nice. Platini missed the remainder of the season as a result, unable to assist Nancy in an unsuccessful bid to avoid relegation from Ligue 1. The following season saw Nancy win promotion back to the French first division with ease. Platini became the team's most important player, scoring 17 goals, a number of which were scored from free-kicks, as was becoming Platini's specialty. Saint-Étienne, the then reigning French league champions, were knocked out of the French Cup with two goals from Platini free-kicks. Platini practised his free-kicks with the help of his friend, goalkeeper Moutier, and using a row of dummies to form a defensive wall of sorts.

With Nancy back in Ligue 1, Platini's military service reduced his availability for matches, but he continued to make himself available to play when possible. In a match away to Laval, Platini, angered by the taunts of the home supporters, scored a hat-trick, but unluckily sustained another injury. Press reports claimed that Platini's season was over and that he would require a knee operation, but neither claim proved to be correct. Instead, Platini returned to first-team football two weeks later for Nancy's French Cup semi-final against Marseille at the Parc des Princes. Platini headed the only Nancy goal in their 4–1 loss and was forced to leave the field injured. Following his participation in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Platini signed a two-year contract with Nancy, his first professional contract.

Before travelling to Argentina for the World Cup, Platini won the first major trophy of his playing career, captaining Nancy to victory in the 1978 French Cup final against Nice and scoring the only goal of the game. President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing presented him with the trophy. However, with the World Cup scheduled to start two weeks after the cup final, there was little time left for preparation.

Although Platini was not disgraced by his performances at his first World Cup, fans held him responsible for the French team's failure to progress in the tournament, and in the season that followed he was a target of jeering crowds. The situation came to a head in a match away to Saint-Étienne. Spurred on by booing fans, Platini competed for every ball, and he picked up a bad ankle injury in a tackle. As a result, he was ruled out of Nancy's Cup Winners' Cup campaign. His contract with the club expired in June 1979, and Internazionale, Paris Saint-Germain, and Saint-Étienne emerged as the clubs most likely to sign him, although the Nancy club president had been unwilling to let Platini leave the club. Having set his mind on a transfer to Saint-Étienne, he signed a three-year contract with les Verts.

In spite of his injuries and the boos that would greet him, Platini maintained his pranksterish sense of humour. On away trips, he would set off firecrackers in public places and then pretend to be dead, inevitably drawing a crowd. While in Argentina for the World Cup, he would squeeze tubes of toothpaste into his teammates' beds.

Platini's three years at Saint-Étienne were a mixed success. The club had signed him with a view to success in the European Cup, but despite some excellent results (including a 6–0 win over PSV in the 1979–80 UEFA Cup and a 5–0 win at Hamburger SV in the UEFA Cup the following season), the club were unable to surpass the feats of the Saint-Étienne side that had reached the final of the 1976 European Cup.

Platini won the French league title in 1981 with Les Verts, but was on a losing Saint-Étienne side in two French Cup finals, against Bastia in 1981 and against Paris Saint-Germain in 1982, in what was his last match for the club before joining Juventus. He left for a nominal transfer fee (under UEFA regulations) despite being out of contract and no fee being necessary under French regulations at the time.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ZdIcMR4a4UC&pg=PA217 |title=Moving with the Ball: The Migration of Professional Footballers |date= 6 January 2001|isbn=9781859733073 |access-date=20 September 2012|last1=Lanfranchi |first1=Pierre |last2=Taylor |first2=Matthew |publisher=Berg Publishers }}

At Juventus, Platini inherited the number 10 shirt from the recently departed Liam Brady.{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/da-ferrari-a-bernardeschi-la-juve-e-l-importanza-della-maglia-numero-10-998150|title=Da Ferrari a Bernardeschi: la Juve e l'importanza della maglia numero 10|publisher=www.TuttoMercatoWeb.com|language=it|author1=Lorenzo Di Benedetto|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=11 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811184528/https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/da-ferrari-a-bernardeschi-la-juve-e-l-importanza-della-maglia-numero-10-998150|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-michel-platini-375386|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Michel PLATINI|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=it|author1=Stefano Bedeschi|date=21 June 2017|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523033837/https://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-michel-platini-375386|url-status=live}} In a team featuring numerous members of Italy's victorious World Cup squad, Platini had a difficult introduction to Italian football. He was a target in the demanding Italian sports media, and even came close to leaving Italy in the winter of his first season. Platini and teammate Zbigniew Boniek successfully called for a change in tactics, and in the second half of the season Juventus saw an upturn in their fortunes. They reached the European Cup final, losing to Hamburger SV, but won the Italian Cup, the first of many club honours to follow for Platini in the coming seasons.

{{Quote box|width=25%|align=left|quote="We bought him for a morsel of bread and he put foie gras on top of it!"

|source =—Gianni Agnelli, Juventus president.{{cite web |url=https://www.corriere.it/lettere-al-corriere/15_dicembre_22/Agnelli-e-il-foie-gras_6bc04210-a874-11e5-8cb6-cc689478293e.shtml |title=Agnelli e il foie gras |publisher=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |author1=Pietro Mancini |date=22 December 2015 |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-date=20 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420022611/http://www.corriere.it/lettere-al-corriere/15_dicembre_22/Agnelli-e-il-foie-gras_6bc04210-a874-11e5-8cb6-cc689478293e.shtml |url-status=live }}}}

He won the Serie A title with Juventus in 1984 and 1986, the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1984 (setting up Vignola's opening goal in the Turin club's 2–1 victory over Porto in the final of the competition),{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/en/club/torphy-room/uefa-cup-winners-cup/coppa-coppe-1984.php|title=UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1983-84|publisher=www.juventus.com|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102162935/http://www.juventus.com/en/club/torphy-room/uefa-cup-winners-cup/coppa-coppe-1984.php|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2017/03/14/le-memorie-di-vignola-io-giocatore-normale-in-una-squadra-di-mostri50.html|title=Le memorie di Vignola "Io, giocatore normale in una squadra di mostri"|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Maurizio Crosetti|date=14 March 2017|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020135922/http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2017/03/14/le-memorie-di-vignola-io-giocatore-normale-in-una-squadra-di-mostri50.html|url-status=live}} the 1984 European Super Cup, the European Cup in 1985 and the 1985 Intercontinental Cup. He finished top scorer in Serie A for three consecutive seasons (1982–83, 1983–84, and 1984–85), and won a hat-trick of European Footballer of the Year awards (1983 through 1985). He was also voted Player of the Year by World Soccer magazine in 1984 and 1985.

{{Quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote="I played for Nancy because it was my hometown club and the best in Lorraine, for Saint-Étienne because it was the best team in France, and for Juventus because it is the best team in the world!"{{cite web|url=http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/06/21/michel-platini-compie-sessantanni-auguri-a-le-roi/1800603/|title=Michel Platini compie sessant'anni: da 'Le Roi' in bianconero alla poltrona più importante della Uefa|trans-title=Michel Platini turns sixty: from "The King" with Juventus to UEFA's highest throne|publisher=Il Fatto Quotidiano|language=it|date=21 June 2015|access-date=10 August 2015|archive-date=15 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815055806/http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/06/21/michel-platini-compie-sessantanni-auguri-a-le-roi/1800603/|url-status=live}}|source =—Platini after his final match in Serie A against Brescia, in 1987.}}

The 1985 European Cup final against Liverpool at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels should have been the crowning moment of Platini's Juventus career, but was instead overshadowed by the Heysel Stadium disaster in which 39 people died, and 600 more were injured. It was decided to proceed with the match in order to avoid inciting any further trouble, and after both captains had appealed for calm, the match began just under an hour and a half beyond schedule, with riot police still engaged in a pitched battle with Juventus fans. Platini scored the only goal of the match from a penalty kick, which had been controversially awarded for a foul just outside the area on Zbigniew Boniek, after the Frenchman had met his run behind the defence towards goal with a long ball.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1985/may/29/championsleague.sport|title=Liverpool fade into background|work=The Guardian|author1=David Lacey|date=29 May 1985|access-date=20 October 2017}} In the days following the final, Platini was criticised in some quarters for his lack of restraint in celebrating Juventus' win. In his own defence, Platini maintained that he had not been made fully aware of the scale of the disaster. In the 1985 Intercontinental Cup final against Argentinos Juniors, Platini scored from a penalty during regulation time, also having another goal disallowed, and later assisted Michael Laudrup's equaliser; he subsequently netted the match-winning penalty in the resulting shoot-out, and was named Man of the Match.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyotamvp.html |title=Toyota Cup - Most Valuable Player of the Match Award |access-date=30 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414090937/http://rsssf.com/tablest/toyotamvp.html |archive-date=14 April 2009 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/en/club/torphy-room/intercontinental-cup/coppa-intercontinentale-1985.php|title=Intercontinental Cup 1985|publisher=www.juventus.com|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020140158/http://www.juventus.com/en/club/torphy-room/intercontinental-cup/coppa-intercontinentale-1985.php|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/dec/18/michel-platini-uefa-fifa-juventus|title=Michel Platini's playing brilliance can be seen through the murk|work=The Guardian|author1=Richard Williams|date=18 December 2015|access-date=20 October 2017}} Following the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Platini spent another season at Juventus before retiring from football in June 1987.

Having first attracted the attention of national team selectors in the Coupe Gambardella tournament, Platini was selected for the French junior team, but injuries prevented him from playing. He made his first appearance for a French national selection playing for the French amateur side on 26 September 1973.

Platini began his military service in summer 1975. He was assigned to the Joinville battalion, as were all talented French sportspeople fulfilling their military obligations. His colleagues in the battalion included his Nancy teammates Olivier Rouyer and Jean-Michel Moutier, as well as Maxime Bossis, soon to become a regular in the French national team along with Platini. Platini would turn out for the French military team, in addition to representing the French under-23s and the French Olympic team. He impressed in the Olympic team's 4–0 win over Romania in Brest, a result made even more impressive by the fact that Romania had fielded a full international side for the Olympic qualifier. Platini's performance made him a star in France. The away leg of the qualifying tie was a mere formality, France coming away with a 1–1 draw. Three days after the draw in Bucharest, Platini received his first call-up to the national team for what was coach Michel Hidalgo's first game in charge, a friendly against Czechoslovakia in Paris (27 March 1976, 2–2), and scored his first goal with a trademark free kick.

Platini was a member of the French football team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Their tournament began on 19 July with a 4–1 win over Mexico. They registered another 4–1 win in their next match against Guatemala, with two goals from Platini. The French team completed the group stage with a draw against Israel, Platini scoring from a penalty. France progressed to the quarter-final stage, where they would face a full-strength East German team. France lost 4–0 and finished the match with nine men.

File:Michel Platini en 1978, 'Argentina 78', Panini figurina n°90.jpg]]

With a 3–1 win over Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes on 16 November 1977, a match in which Platini excelled in the role of playmaker and scored with a strike from 30 yards, France secured qualification for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina for their first appearance in the World Cup finals since 1966. In the month following the decisive qualifying match, Platini finished third in the voting for the 1977 European Footballer of the Year.

Among the international friendlies France played in preparation for the World Cup, their match against Italy in Naples on 8 February 1978 (2–2) was particularly significant for Platini. With a number of scouts from Italian clubs in attendance, he was in excellent form. He beat Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff from two direct free-kicks, the first being ruled out because the referee had not blown his whistle. The re-taken free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall, but minutes later Platini had the ball in the Italian net from another free-kick. Zoff attempted to anticipate the flight of the ball by positioning himself on the left side of the goal, only for Platini to find the unguarded area of the net with his free-kick, leaving Zoff rooted to the spot. Platini's duels with Zoff and his performance in a match that was broadcast on Italian television made him well known in Italy. A number of clubs both in France (Paris Saint-Germain and Saint-Étienne) and across Europe (including Juventus, Internazionale, Napoli, Barcelona, Valencia, and Arsenal) began the clamour for Platini's services.{{cite web|access-date=19 November 2016|title=03 décembre 1975 - France Amateur-Roumanie : 4-0|url=http://selectiona.free.fr/affich.php?id=O016|website=selectiona.free.fr|archive-date=19 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119182607/http://selectiona.free.fr/affich.php?id=O016|url-status=live}}.

In retrospect, this match may have been a Pyrrhic victory because Platini's brilliance drew the attention of Italy coach Enzo Bearzot, who devised a successful plan to contain him in a match-up that really mattered—the first round of the 1978 World Cup four months later. Platini was kept in check by Marco Tardelli's implacable marking and Italy won 2–1. Drawn in a difficult group with Italy as well as hosts (and eventual winners) Argentina, France's loss to the hosts in Buenos Aires effectively ensured their elimination; France did not survive the first round.

Platini was nonetheless made captain of the French national side after the World Cup and made the number 10 jersey his own. One of his trademark free-kicks helped France defeat the Netherlands 2–0 in Paris (18 November 1981) in a crucial qualifying match for the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

France unexpectedly reached the semifinals of the 1982 World Cup where they met West Germany in Seville for what proved to be one of the greatest matches in World Cup history. German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher had collided with Patrick Battiston, leaving the Frenchman knocked-out cold, and the referee did not call a penalty, much to the anger of the French. With both sides level at 3–3 after extra time had been played (Platini having scored France's first goal of the game from a penalty) the match went to a penalty shoot-out which West Germany won 5–4.{{cite web|last1=Pears|first1=Tim|title=My most beautiful game|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/26/world-cup-platini|work=The Guardian|date=26 October 2008|access-date=17 June 2014|archive-date=5 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605145225/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/oct/26/world-cup-platini|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote="He didn't run a lot like Cruyff and didn't depend on his physique, but I liked how he was the brain organising things on the pitch. He was a player who used his head in the broader sense. The way he shone with France and Juventus, and his capacity for taking free-kicks, made him the European footballer of the 1980s."

|source =—Pelé.}}

In 1984, Platini captained France to success in the European Championship on home soil. His individual impact on the tournament was huge with nine of France's 14 goals in just five games (the top goal scorer in Euro '84).

He scored the winner in France's opening match against Denmark, and scored two "perfect" hat-tricks against Belgium and Yugoslavia as France topped their first-round group with three wins out of three. In the dramatic semi-final in Marseille against Portugal, Platini scored the final goal of the match for a memorable 3–2 win in the last minute of extra time.

In the final against Spain at the Parc des Princes in Paris, he opened the scoring with a free kick-goal, helped by a monumental blunder from Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada. A second goal from Bruno Bellone in injury time at the end of the match secured France's first major title in international football.

File:Platini vs canada.jpg at the 1986 World Cup]]

Suffering from groin pain and playing under injection, Platini was not in peak physical condition for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Nonetheless, he contributed two important goals. The first contributed to their 2–0 defeat of defending champions Italy at the Olimpico Stadium in Mexico City. The second came during the quarter-final match against Brazil in Guadalajara. After Careca scored for Brazil, Platini scored the equalizer, his 41st on his 31st birthday, which sent the game into a penalty shoot-out. France won 4–3, with Platini infamously sending his over the bar. This goal was to be the last of his international career. After losing a second World Cup semi-final in a row to West Germany in Guadalajara, France had to settle for third place. Platini did not take part in the 1982 or 1986 World Cup third-place matches.

{{Quote box|width=25%|align=left|quote="When I was a kid and played with my friends, I always chose to be Platini. I let my friends share the names of my other idols between themselves."

|source =—Zinedine Zidane[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016181205/http://fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=28528/quotes.html "Michel Platini – I was there"]. FIFA.com. Retrieved 24 May 2014}}

Platini made his last appearance for France on 29 April 1987, in a European Championship qualifier at home to Iceland, a few weeks before announcing his retirement from all football. In 72 appearances for France from 1976 to 1987, including 49 appearances as captain, Platini scored 41 times, a record for the French national team, which has since only been surpassed by two men: Thierry Henry, after scoring his 42nd and 43rd national team goals against Lithuania in a Euro 2008 qualifying match on 17 October 2007, and Olivier Giroud, who scored his 41st and 42nd goals for France in a 7–1 friendly victory over Ukraine on 7 October 2020.

Platini's last match came on 27 November 1988, when he came out of retirement for one day to play in an international friendly match representing Kuwait against the Soviet Union, at the request of the Kuwaiti Emir. Platini played a total of 21 minutes in the 2–0 loss to the Soviets. In doing so, Platini completed the rare feat of appearing for more than one country at full international level.

{{Quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote="Michel was one of those great players who saw fitness work as being a bit superficial. He used to say, 'We're not going to compete in the 5,000 metres at the Olympics, we have to play with our feet."

|source =— Giovanni Trapattoni, former Juventus coach on Platini.}}

Platini is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, and is regarded as one of the finest passers in football history, as well as one of the best ever penalty kick and free kick specialists to have played the game.{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1634018-25-most-skilled-passers-in-world-football-history |title=25 Most Skilled Passers in World Football History |publisher=bleacherreport.com |author1=Max Towle |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=10 October 2018 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708142243/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1634018-25-most-skilled-passers-in-world-football-history |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.dnamilan.com/nemici-storici/michel-platini.html |title=Nemici Storici: Michel Platini |publisher=www.dnamilan.com |language=it |author1=Enrico Bonifazi |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102916/http://www.dnamilan.com/nemici-storici/michel-platini.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.robertomancini.com/en/calciatore-2/il-numero-10.html|title=THE NUMBER 10|publisher=www.robertomancini.com|last=Mancini|first=Roberto|access-date=8 December 2018|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130131930/https://www.robertomancini.com/en/calciatore-2/il-numero-10.html|url-status=live}} A quick, versatile, elegant, and intelligent offensive midfield playmaker, with a unique ability to read the game and bend the ball from set pieces, he was renowned in particular for his ball control, technical ability, dribbling skills, creativity, range of passing, and vision, despite his lack of notable physical or athletic attributes.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/platini.html|title=Michel Platini|access-date=1 February 2015|archive-date=13 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813114651/http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/platini.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/michel-platini-21302385#playing-career|title=Michel Platini Biography|access-date=1 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dnamilan.com/nemici-storici/michel-platini.html|title=Michel Platini|publisher=DNA Milan.com|language=it|access-date=9 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102916/http://www.dnamilan.com/nemici-storici/michel-platini.html|archive-date=24 December 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/15_luglio_29/zico-platini-candidati-se-la-presidenza-fifa-si-sfidano-due-piu-grandi-numeri-10-sempre-96d656d4-35e1-11e5-b050-7dc71ce7db4c.shtml |title=Zico e Platini candidati: se per la presidenza Fifa si sfidano due fra i più grandi numeri 10 di sempre |publisher=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |author1=Mario Sconcerti |date=29 July 2015 |access-date=28 June 2018 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531111336/https://www.corriere.it/sport/15_luglio_29/zico-platini-candidati-se-la-presidenza-fifa-si-sfidano-due-piu-grandi-numeri-10-sempre-96d656d4-35e1-11e5-b050-7dc71ce7db4c.shtml |url-status=live }}

Although he primarily served as a creative midfielder, who operated in a more withdrawn playing role behind the strikers, and who mainly orchestrated attacking plays, provided assists, or created chances for teammates, Platini was also a prolific goalscorer. Due to his footballing intelligence, movement, and composure in front of goal, as well as his accurate finishing ability with either foot, as well as his head, despite being naturally right-footed, he was known for his ability to create attacking opportunities for himself by playing exchanges with his teammates until he was in a position from which he could receive the ball and score; indeed, he won several top-scoring awards throughout his career, both at club and international level, and is considered by pundits to be one of the best finishers of all time.{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1062536-20-greatest-two-footed-players-in-world-football-history#slide13 |title=20 Great Two-Footed Players in World Football History |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Turner |first1=Mikhail |date=15 February 2012 |access-date=20 October 2019 |archive-date=20 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020154102/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1062536-20-greatest-two-footed-players-in-world-football-history#slide13 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8481543/Worlds-greatest-XI-the-best-ever-football-team-in-pictures.html?image=8 |title=World's greatest XI: the best ever football team in pictures |work=The Telegraph |access-date=20 October 2019 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027173122/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/8481543/Worlds-greatest-XI-the-best-ever-football-team-in-pictures.html?image=8 |url-status=live }}

When taking free kicks, Platini usually preferred to strike the ball from a distance of around 20 metres from the goal, with a direct kick which had not been touched by a teammate first; his unique free kick technique, which often involved him hitting the ball over the wall, influenced many other specialists, such as Alessandro Del Piero,{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/ottobre/24/Del_Piero_Tira_alla_Platini_co_0_951024456.shtml|title=Del Piero? Tira alla Platini|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=24 October 1995|page=44|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151106152619/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/ottobre/24/Del_Piero_Tira_alla_Platini_co_0_951024456.shtml|archive-date=6 November 2015}} and Andrea Pirlo.{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2005/c/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/pirlo/pirlo/pirlo.html|title=Pirlo l'uomo nuovo "Ho imparato guardando Baggio"|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|last=Currò|first=Enrico|date=29 March 2005|access-date=16 May 2012|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130134042/https://www.repubblica.it/2005/c/sezioni/sport/calcio/nazionale/pirlo/pirlo/pirlo.html|url-status=live}} Despite his talent, skill, and outstanding playing ability, Platini also drew criticism from his managers at times, due to his lack of stamina and poor defensive work-rate. Due to his leadership, dominance, and his technical, offensive, and creative attributes, as well as his ability to be a decisive player for his teams, he was given the nickname "Le Roi" ("The King", in French).{{cite web |url=http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/calcio/articoli/45431/il-piu-grande-di-tutti-i-tempi.shtml |title=Il più grande di tutti i tempi |publisher=www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it |language=it |date=29 October 2010 |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627230912/http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/calcio/articoli/45431/il-piu-grande-di-tutti-i-tempi.shtml |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2006/marzo/31/Tra_Hamrin_Batigol_Toni_per_ga_10_06033112842.shtml|title=Tra Hamrin e Batigol Toni per la storia|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=31 March 2006|access-date=9 December 2014|archive-date=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232518/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2006/marzo/31/Tra_Hamrin_Batigol_Toni_per_ga_10_06033112842.shtml|url-status=live}} Moreover, Platini was known for his discipline on the pitch; indeed, in his extensive career, he was never sent off.{{cite web |url=https://it.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0244-0e962a70c6b2-ba531559c85c-1000--iniesta-e-i-suoi-fratelli-i-giocatori-mai-espulsi/ |title=Iniesta e i suoi fratelli: i giocatori mai espulsi |publisher=UEFA |language=it |date=1 April 2008 |access-date=27 December 2018 |archive-date=12 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912165822/https://it.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2439975.html |url-status=live }}

Michel Platini's life and work are presented through an impressively extensive collection of sporting exhibits, honoured with two Guinness World Records, at the Michel Platini Museum located in the village of Mosfiloti, Cyprus.{{Cite web | url=https://www.euronews.com/2017/09/11/ultimate-platini-fan-in-cyprus-wins-guinness-world-record | title=Ultimate Platini fan wins Guinness record | date=11 September 2017 | access-date=20 April 2022 | archive-date=8 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608235604/https://www.euronews.com/2017/09/11/ultimate-platini-fan-in-cyprus-wins-guinness-world-record | url-status=live }}

Platini was named coach of the French national side on 1 November 1988, replacing Henri Michel, who had been forced out after France infamously drew with Cyprus (1–1) in a 1990 World Cup qualifier. France's qualifying campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.

The focus of the team shifted to qualifying for the 1992 European Championship in Sweden. France excelled in the qualifying stages, winning all eight of their group matches, including notable victories away to Spain and Czechoslovakia. After a record 19-match unbeaten run, they were among the favourites to win the competition and Platini was named Manager of the Year by the World Soccer Awards. But a string of uninspiring performances in warm-up matches, followed by France's first-round elimination from the tournament, led Platini to step down as coach.

{{Quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote="He [Platini] was a great player who left a mark on his era, and it's always good when players take up positions in the higher echelons of the game. He knows everything there is to know about football."

|source =—Lilian Thuram, France '98 World Cup winning defender.}}

Platini was, along with Fernand Sastre, head of the organizing committee for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, held in France. He served on the UEFA Technical Development Committee from 1988 to 1990. He has been a member of the UEFA Executive Committee and European member of the FIFA Executive Committee since 2002. He continued to climb the ranks of UEFA and FIFA football administration and in 2006, became a chairman of the FIFA Technical and Development Committee, while also being vice-president of the French Football Federation.

Platini confirmed that he would run for the UEFA presidency in July 2006.{{cite news | title = Platini to run for UEFA presidency | publisher=EuFootball.biz | date = 27 July 2006 | url = http://www.eufootball.biz/other/270706-Platini_to_run_for_UEFA_presidency.html | access-date =5 November 2006 | url-status = usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218023750/http://www.eufootball.biz/other/270706-Platini_to_run_for_UEFA_presidency.html |archive-date=18 December 2007}} In the election in Düsseldorf on 26 January 2007, he defeated Lennart Johansson, who held the post for the previous 16 years, by 27 votes to 23.{{cite news|title=Platini elected UEFA president |publisher=UEFA |date=27 January 2007 |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=500491.html |access-date=27 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208135938/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D64/newsid%3D500491.html |archive-date=8 February 2007 |url-status=dead }} Platini based his speech on virtues of solidarity and universality.

File:Wroclaw-Platini-visit.jpg, 2009]]

In 2008, Platini backed the 6+5 idea, six home-grown players and five foreign players to be introduced in top-flight teams in Europe. Platini has also backed caps on wages, transfer spending – both absolute and as a fraction of club turnover – and foreign ownership of clubs. He has stated that he wants to reduce the number of Italian, Spanish, and English teams that participate in the UEFA Champions League to a maximum of three instead of four.{{cite news | title = Platini victory would reduce England's Champions League quota |work=The Guardian |location=UK | date =29 December 2006 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/29/championsleague200607.championsleague | access-date =7 May 2009 | first=Matt | last=Scott}} This hasn't happened yet, but instead for the 2009–10 season, different routes were created for champions of smaller countries and non-champions of bigger countries. He has also talked about banning clubs from the competition based on the debts of the clubs.{{cite news | title = Platini warns clubs in debt of possible Champions League ban | work = The Independent | location = UK | date = 27 June 2008 | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/platini-warns-clubs-in-debt-of-possible-champions-league-ban-855315.html | access-date = 7 May 2009 | first = Gordon | last = Tynan | archive-date = 25 January 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100125161135/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/platini-warns-clubs-in-debt-of-possible-champions-league-ban-855315.html | url-status = live }} Among his more contentious claims is that international transfer of players under 18 is in fact a form of illegal "child trafficking" and should be prohibited by the EU. "Paying a child to kick a ball is not that different from paying a child to work [...] in a factory," said Platini to members of the European Parliament on 18 February 2009.[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/sports/19iht-SOCCER.1.20309283.html?_r=0 "Platini's latest foe, and maybe the toughest: The EU"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424001953/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/sports/19iht-SOCCER.1.20309283.html?_r=0 |date=24 April 2023 }}. New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2014

Following Sepp Blatter's announcement in June 2015 that he would resign from the post of FIFA president amid the ongoing corruption scandal,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live|title=Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president – as it happened|date=3 June 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 June 2015|archive-date=4 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604035149/http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jun/02/fifa-calls-press-conference-amid-latest-corruption-claims-live|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32982449|title=Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president amid corruption scandal|date=3 June 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=4 June 2015|archive-date=1 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101074808/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32982449|url-status=live}} Platini announced in July that he would run for FIFA president in the 2016 special election.{{cite web|title=Michel Platini to stand for the FIFA presidency|url=http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/president/news/newsid=2268191.html|publisher=UEFA|access-date=9 September 2015|date=29 July 2015|archive-date=22 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022141729/http://www.uefa.org/about-uefa/president/news/newsid=2268191.html|url-status=live}} However, on 7 January 2016, Platini announced that he would not be standing in the Fifa presidential election, saying: "The timing is not good for me. I don't have the means to fight on equal terms with the other candidates. […] Bye bye Fifa, bye bye Fifa presidency."{{cite web | title= Michel Platini will not stand in Fifa presidential election|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35257953| author=|date= 7 January 2016 | website= BBC News Online | access-date= 7 January 2016 }}

Following the ongoing corruption case, and after his announcement that in July he would run for FIFA president, Platini was also involved himself in the case. Swiss prosecutors accused FIFA president Sepp Blatter of making a "disloyal payment" of $2m (£1.6m) to Platini. Swiss attorney general, {{Ill|Michael Lauber|de}}, stated: "We didn't interview Mr Platini as a witness, that's not true. We investigated against him in between as a witness and an accused person."{{cite web|title=Fifa scandal: Michel Platini drawn closer to Blatter case|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34396551|publisher=bbc.com|access-date=30 September 2015|date=30 September 2015|archive-date=22 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222044542/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34396551|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Platini says the SFr2m was contracted, Lauber says he is under investigation|url=http://www.insideworldfootball.com/fifa/17980-platini-says-the-sfr2m-was-contracted-lauber-says-he-is-under-investigation|publisher=insideworldfootball.com|access-date=30 September 2015|date=30 September 2015|archive-date=1 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001070205/http://www.insideworldfootball.com/fifa/17980-platini-says-the-sfr2m-was-contracted-lauber-says-he-is-under-investigation|url-status=dead}} Both Platini and Blatter were placed under formal investigation by FIFA's independent ethics committee in late September 2015.{{cite web|title=Michel Platini urged to give detail about £1.3million payment from FIFA|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/michel-platini-urged-to-give-detail-about-1.3million-payment-from-fifa_sto4929453/story.shtml|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=30 September 2015|date=28 September 2015}}

On 8 October 2015, Platini was provisionally suspended until 6 January 2016 from any football-related activity.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34474231|title=Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini & Jerome Valcke suspended|date=8 October 2015|work=BBC Sport|access-date=8 October 2015|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113234608/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34474231|url-status=live}} On 21 December, Platini and Blatter were both found guilty of ethics violations and barred from the sport until 2023.{{cite news|title=Fifa: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini get eight-year bans|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35144652|access-date=21 December 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=21 December 2015}} The committee said Platini "did not show commitment to an ethical attitude" and lacked respect for laws and regulations of the organization.{{cite news|last1=Borden|first1=Sam|title=Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Are Barred From Soccer for 8 Years|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/sports/soccer/fifa-bans-blatter-platini.html|access-date=21 December 2015|work=The New York Times|date=21 December 2015|archive-date=21 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221131723/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/sports/soccer/fifa-bans-blatter-platini.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Warshaw|first1=Andrew|title=Merry Christmas Mr Blatter and Mr Platini...you're fired|url=http://www.insideworldfootball.com/fifa/18559-merry-christmas-mr-blatter-and-mr-platini-you-re-fired|access-date=23 December 2015|work=insideworldfootball.com|date=23 December 2015|archive-date=23 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223235951/http://www.insideworldfootball.com/fifa/18559-merry-christmas-mr-blatter-and-mr-platini-you-re-fired|url-status=dead}} Platini boycotted the hearing, and said he planned to appeal the decision, declaring himself "at peace with my conscience."{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35655454 |title=Sepp Blatter & Michel Platini lose Fifa appeals but bans reduced |access-date=24 February 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509025609/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35655454 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/sepp-blatter/12062418/Rise-and-fall-of-Michel-Platini-the-self-proclaimed-football-man-who-forgot-the-meaning-of-integrity.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221170548/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/sepp-blatter/12062418/Rise-and-fall-of-Michel-Platini-the-self-proclaimed-football-man-who-forgot-the-meaning-of-integrity.html |archive-date=21 December 2015 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Rise and fall of Michel Platini – the self-proclaimed 'football man' who forgot the meaning of integrity|date=21 December 2015|work=Telegraph.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/fifa/243/post/2765839/sepp-blatter-and-michel-platini-given-eight-year-fifa-bans|title=Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini given eight-year FIFA bans – ESPN FC|work=ESPNFC.com|access-date=22 December 2015|archive-date=22 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222190521/http://www.espnfc.com/blog/fifa/243/post/2765839/sepp-blatter-and-michel-platini-given-eight-year-fifa-bans|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/may/09/michel-platini-cas-appeal-ban-football|title=Michel Platini given reduced ban of 4 years|website=TheGuardian.com|date=9 May 2016}} He appealed to Swiss courts, and to the European Court of Human Rights, but the courts rejected his appeals.{{Cite news|last=Ronay|first=Barney|date=5 March 2020|title=Michel Platini's appeal over ban rejected by European court of human rights|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/05/michel-platini-appeal-over-ban-rejected-by-european-court-of-human-rights-football|access-date=13 September 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017201518/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/05/michel-platini-appeal-over-ban-rejected-by-european-court-of-human-rights-football|url-status=live}}

Platini was also involved in the Greek public polemica regarding the 2015 Greek football scandal.{{cite web | url = http://www.cahiersdufootball.net/article-olympiakos-grosses-combines-relations-troubles-6011 | title=Olympiakos: Grosses Combines et relations troubles | publisher = les cahiers du football | date = 9 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/17247-exclusive-uefa-ethics-chiefs-clears-greeks-in-match-fixing-scandal-for-europa-league|title=Exclusive: UEFA ethics chief clears Greeks in match-fixing scandal for Europa League – Inside World Football|author=Paul Nicholson|access-date=16 August 2015|archive-date=18 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918172533/http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/europe/17247-exclusive-uefa-ethics-chiefs-clears-greeks-in-match-fixing-scandal-for-europa-league|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/11742597/Match-fixing-case-in-Greece-just-adds-to-sense-of-Greek-chaos.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/11742597/Match-fixing-case-in-Greece-just-adds-to-sense-of-Greek-chaos.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Match-fixing case in Greece just adds to sense of Greek chaos|date=15 July 2015|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=16 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}

In April 2016, Platini has been named in the Panama Papers.{{cite news| url = http://fusion.net/story/287172/fifa-dirty-money-yacht/| title = Group of death: FIFA officials' financial secrets exposed in new Wikileaks-style trove| date = 3 April 2016| work = Fusion| access-date = 1 May 2016| archive-date = 26 December 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181226142024/https://fusion.tv//story/287172/fifa-dirty-money-yacht/| url-status = dead}}

On 18 May 2018, Platini said that the 1998 FIFA World Cup draw was fixed to ensure France and Brazil could not face each other until the final if both teams won their groups.{{cite news|title=World Cup: Michel Platini claims 'trickery' over 1998 tournament draw|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44170578|access-date=18 May 2018|work=BBC Sport|date=18 May 2018|archive-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519161503/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44170578|url-status=live}}

In June 2019, Platini was questioned over the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48673461|title=Michel Platini questioned over awarding of World Cup to Qatar|work=BBC|access-date=18 June 2019|archive-date=18 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618105513/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48673461|url-status=live}}

In 2025 Platini was acquitted for a second time on charges of fraud, forgery, mismanagement and misappropriation in 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/blatter-platini-acquitted-charges-defrauding-fifa-march-25-1.7492481|title=Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini acquitted again at 2nd trial of financial wrongdoing at FIFA|work=CBC}}

On December 21, 1977, Michel Platini married Christèle Bigoni with whom he had two children: Laurent (born March 2, 1979, lawyer specializing in sports) and Marine (born in 1980, actress){{cite book|author1=Jacques Lafitte |author2=Stephen Taylor |date=1999 |page=1438 |publisher=J. Lafitte |title=Qui est qui en France}}et maintenant sa petite fille Eva .

On 9 July 2010, the day before the third place play-off of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Platini collapsed at a restaurant in the Michaelangelo Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg. He was rushed to the Morningside Medi-Clinic with a suspected heart attack after having received first aid care by a Brazilian radio director who was sitting at a table next to him. He was attended to and discharged by cardiologist and former President of the South African Heart Association – Dr Leonard Steingo.{{cite news|url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/UEFA-chief-Michel-Platini-suffers-suspected-heart-attack-article521713.html|title=UEFA chief Michel Platini suffers suspected heart attack – News – MirrorFootball.co.uk|last=Lipton|first=Martin|date=9 July 2010|work=Mirror Football|access-date=9 July 2010|archive-date=11 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711062055/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/UEFA-chief-Michel-Platini-suffers-suspected-heart-attack-article521713.html|url-status=live}} The official statement released by FIFA confirmed that Platini was discharged, stating that the UEFA President was "fine, and merely suffering from a bout of flu."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8806744.stm|title=Uefa president Michel Platini collapses in Johannesburg|date=9 July 2010|work=BBC Sport-Football|access-date=9 July 2010}}

Platini was confirmed in attendance two days later at the final between Spain and Netherlands on the evening of 11 July.

{{notelist}}

:Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Platini goal.

Nancy

• Coupe de France: 1977–78
• Division 2: 1974–75

Saint-Étienne

• Division 1: 1980–81
• Coupe de France runner-up: 1980–81, 1981–82

Juventus

• Serie A: 1983–84, 1985–86
• Coppa Italia: 1982–83
• European Cup: 1984–85; runner-up: 1982–83
• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1983–84
• European Super Cup: 1984
• Intercontinental Cup: 1985

France

• UEFA European Championship: 1984
• Finalissima: 1985
• FIFA World Cup third place: 1986

Individual

• French Player of the Year: 1976, 1977{{cite web|date=8 January 2010|title=France – Footballer of the Year|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/franpoy.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905115225/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/franpoy.html|archive-date=5 September 2015|website=RSSSF|access-date=16 October 2015}}
• Onze d'Argent: 1977
• L'Équipe French Champion of Champions: 1977, 1984{{cite web|date=26 December 2014|title=L'Équipe World Champion of Champions|url=http://whoholdsthetitle.com/home/championslist/list-of-lequipe-world-champion-of-champions-rafael-nadal-2010-winner/|access-date=22 December 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222519/http://whoholdsthetitle.com/home/championslist/list-of-lequipe-world-champion-of-champions-rafael-nadal-2010-winner/|url-status=live}}
• Onze de Onze: 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986{{Cite web|title="Onze Mondial" Awards|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=24 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924125510/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|url-status=live}}
• FIFA XI: 1979{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |title=FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info |access-date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033752/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |url-status=live }}
• Sport Ideal European XI: 1977,{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1977/12/31/pagina-3/1402284/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo |title=Sport 1977 |access-date=4 June 2024 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611013132/http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1977/12/31/pagina-3/1402284/pdf.html |url-status=live }} 1978,{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1979/01/03/pagina-16/1043654/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo |title=Sport 1978 |access-date=4 June 2024 |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613020027/http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1979/01/03/pagina-16/1043654/pdf.html |url-status=live }} 1979,{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1980/01/05/pagina-13/1043229/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo |title=Sport 1979 |access-date=4 June 2024 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611022059/http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1980/01/05/pagina-13/1043229/pdf.html |url-status=live }} 1980{{cite web|url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/unofficial-european-ideal-teams-1971-1980.1985633/ |website=BigSoccer |title=Sport 1980|access-date=4 June 2024 }}
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1982, 1986{{cite web|title=FIFA World Cup Awards: All-Star Team|url=http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630203237/http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html|archive-date=30 June 2016|access-date=22 March 2015}}
• Capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer): 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85{{cite web|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|author2=Igor Kramarsic|author3=Alberto Novello|date=11 June 2015|title=Italy – Serie A Top Scorers|website=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italtops.html|access-date=2 December 2015|archive-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031163443/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italtops.html|url-status=live}}
• El Gráfico Player of the Year: 1983{{Cite web |title=Guerin Sportivo World Player of the Year awards 1979-1986 |url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/guerin-sportivo-world-player-of-the-year-awards-1979-1986.2019142/page-3#post-32126565 |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=BigSoccer Forum |language=en-US}}
• Ballon d'Or: 1983, 1984, 1985{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or")|author1=Rob Moore|author2=Karel Stokkermans|date=21 January 2011|website=RSSSF|access-date=23 November 2015|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030908/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html|url-status=live}}
• Onze d'Or: 1983, 1984, 1985{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|title="Onze Mondial" Awards: Onze de Onze 1976–2011|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=6 March 2012|website=RSSSF|access-date=14 September 2015|archive-date=24 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924125510/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|url-status=live}}
• Guerin Sportivo All-Star Team: 1983, 1984{{Cite web |title=Guerin Sportivo World Player of the Year awards 1979-1986 |url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/guerin-sportivo-world-player-of-the-year-awards-1979-1986.2019142/page-3#post-32140141 |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=BigSoccer Forum |language=en-US}}
• Serie A Team of The Year: 1984{{cite web|url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/serie-a-guerin-sportivo-1980-1991-every-game-with-player-ratings.2085771/ |website=BigSoccer |title=Guerin Sportivo Serie A Team of the Year|access-date=30 September 2024 }}
• Guerin d'Oro: 1983–84{{cite web|title=Guerin d'Oro|website=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/italpoy.html|access-date=10 September 2015|archive-date=21 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121013030/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/italpoy.html|url-status=live}}
• UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 1984{{cite web|title=Platini shines for flamboyant France|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1984/|access-date=28 December 2015|publisher=UEFA|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418100630/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1984/|url-status=dead}}
• UEFA European Championship Top Scorer: 1984
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1984
• European Cup Top Scorer: 1984–85{{cite web|author1=Roberto Di Maggio|author2=Roberto Mamrud|author3=Jarek Owsianski|author4=Davide Rota|date=11 June 2015|title=Champions Cup/Champions League Topscorers|website=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec1tops.html|access-date=22 December 2015|archive-date=20 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920173000/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec1tops.html|url-status=live}}
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 1984, 1985{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/world-soccer-awards-previous-winners-2-338433 |title=World Soccer Awards – previous winners |publisher=World Soccer |author1=Jamie Rainbow |date=14 December 2012 |access-date=21 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629194202/http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/world-soccer-awards-previous-winners-2-338433 |archive-date=29 June 2016 }}
• Guerin Sportivo Player of the Year: 1984, 1985{{Cite web |title=Guerin Sportivo World Player of the Year awards 1979-1986 |url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/guerin-sportivo-world-player-of-the-year-awards-1979-1986.2019142/page-4#post-32148808 |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=BigSoccer Forum |language=en-US}}
• World XI: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985{{cite web |url=https://beyondthelastman.com/2014/03/10/eric-battys-world-xis-the-eighties-and-nineties/ |website=Beyond The Last Man |date=10 March 2014 |title=Eric Batty's World XI's – The Eighties and Nineties |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131120633/https://beyondthelastman.com/2014/03/10/eric-battys-world-xis-the-eighties-and-nineties/ |url-status=live }}
• Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player of the Match Award: 1985{{cite web|title=Toyota Cup – Most Valuable Player of the Match Award|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyotamvp.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224143201/http://www.rsssf.com/tablest/toyotamvp.html|archive-date=24 December 2008|website=RSSSF|access-date=30 August 2014}}
• FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994{{cite web|title=World All-Time Teams|website=RSSSF|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html|access-date=10 August 2015|archive-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208114829/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html|url-status=live}}
• Super Onze d'Or: 1995
• Planète Foot Magazine Team of All Time: 1996{{Cite web|title=World All-Time Teams|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=8 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208114829/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/wrldallt.html|url-status=live}}
• Planète Foot's 50 Best Player of All Time: 1996{{Cite web|title=The Best x Players of the Century/All-Time|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=31 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231035356/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html|url-status=live}}
• Venerdì's 100 Magnificent: 1997{{Cite web|title=Venerdì's All-Time Top-100 (100 Magnifici)|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/100magn.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=3 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203232002/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/100magn.html|url-status=live}}
• World Team of the 20th Century: 1998
• French Player of the Century: 1999
• RSSSF French National Team of All Time: 1999{{Cite web|title=World All-|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/natnallt.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808073511/https://rsssf.org/miscellaneous/natnallt.html|url-status=live}}
• Placar's 100 Players of the Century: 1999 (#8)
• Guerin Sportivo's 50 Greatest Players of the Century by Adalberto Bortolotti: 1999 (#9)
• France Football Player of the Century: 1999 (#5)
• World Soccer's 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time: 1999 (#5)
• FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2002
• Golden Foot: 2004, as football legend{{cite web|title=Golden Foot Legends|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/en/legends.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416024500/http://www.goldenfoot.com/en/legends.html|archive-date=16 April 2015|access-date=27 March 2015|publisher=Golden Foot.com}}
• FIFA 100: 2004{{cite news|date=4 March 2004|title=Pele's list of the greatest|publisher=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|access-date=15 June 2013|archive-date=24 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824101955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|url-status=live}}
• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: 2004 (#9){{cite web|title=Zinedine Zidane voted top player by fans|url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/171606.pdf|access-date=24 July 2014|publisher=UEFA|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016100521/https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/171606.pdf|url-status=live}}
• Placar's 100 World Cup Stars: 2005 (#19){{Cite web|title=Placar - 100 Craques do Século|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/placwc100.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=20 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620013430/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/placwc100.html|url-status=live}}
• AFS Top-100 Players of All-Time: 2007 (#13){{Cite web|title=AFS Top-100 Players of All-Time|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afstop100.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530051331/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afstop100.html|url-status=live}}
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2008 (voted All-Time Greatest European Footballer. He is only the second person outside the English game to be honoured by the Museum.)
• Premio internazionale Giacinto Facchetti: 2011{{cite web|date=11 November 2014|title=Il premio Facchetti a Michel Platini Festa (con fair play) a Milano|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/11_novembre_14/premio-facchetti-platini_1ac1a2e0-0ed2-11e1-98bb-351bac11bfea.shtml|access-date=21 January 2015|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|archive-date=26 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726194608/https://www.corriere.it/sport/11_novembre_14/premio-facchetti-platini_1ac1a2e0-0ed2-11e1-98bb-351bac11bfea.shtml|url-status=live}}
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2011{{cite web|date=27 October 2015|title=Hall of fame, 10 new entry: con Vialli e Mancini anche Facchetti e Ronaldo|trans-title=Hall of fame, 10 new entries: with Vialli and Mancini also Facchetti and Ronaldo|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/27-10-2015/hall-of-fame-vialli-mancini-facchetti-ronaldo-herrera-agnelli-tardelli-ferlaino-130676725232.shtml|access-date=27 October 2015|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|archive-date=28 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028131551/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/27-10-2015/hall-of-fame-vialli-mancini-facchetti-ronaldo-herrera-agnelli-tardelli-ferlaino-130676725232.shtml|url-status=live}}
• World Hall of Fame of Soccer: 2011{{Cite web|title=Hall of Fame of Soccer Mexico and World|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mex-hof.html|access-date=19 December 2021|website=RSSSF|archive-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404010305/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mex-hof.html|url-status=live}}
• Globe Soccer Awards Player Career Award: 2012{{cite web|title=Wall of Fame|url=http://www.globesoccer.com/awards/walloffame/|access-date=28 December 2015|publisher=Globe Soccer.com|archive-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107205956/http://www.globesoccer.com/awards/walloffame/|url-status=live}}
• Juventus Greatest XI of All Time: 2017{{cite web|date=24 November 2017|title=#JUVE120 team announced|url=http://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2017/juve120-team-announced.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527064014/http://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2017/juve120-team-announced.php|archive-date=27 May 2018|access-date=29 May 2018|publisher=juventus.com}}
• Ballon d'Or Dream Team (Bronze): 2020{{cite web|date=15 December 2020|title=The other two Ballon d'Or Dream Team XIs: Zidane, Cruyff, Iniesta, Di Stefano... but no Casillas|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2020/12/14/5fd7bc8522601d53598b45b2.html|access-date=15 December 2020|website=MARCA|archive-date=15 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215113120/https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2020/12/14/5fd7bc8522601d53598b45b2.html|url-status=live}}
• IFFHS All-time Men's B Dream Team: 2021{{cite web|date=22 May 2021|title=IFFHS ALL TIME WORLD MEN'S DREAM TEAM|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1110|work=IFFHS|access-date=2 October 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213838/https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1110|url-status=live}}
• IFFHS All-time Europe Men's Dream Team: 2021{{cite web|date=29 May 2021|title=IFFHS|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1121|access-date=31 May 2021|publisher=IFFHS|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603054252/https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1121|url-status=live}}
• Artemio Franchi Prize
• IFFHS Legends{{cite web|url=http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/|title=IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players|publisher=IFFHS|date=25 January 2016|access-date=14 September 2016|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924082150/https://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/|url-status=live}}
• Voetbal International's World Stars by Raf Willems

Individual

• El País European Coach of the Year: 1991
• World Soccer Manager of the Year: 1991

• Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1985{{cite journal |date=14 July 1998 |title=Décret du 13 juillet 1998 portant promotion et nomination |trans-title=Decree of 13 July 1998 on promotion and appointment |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000389778 |journal=Official Journal of the French Republic |volume=1998 |issue=161 |id=PREX9801876D |language=fr |access-date=9 March 2025}}
• Officer of the National Order of Merit: 1994{{cite journal |date=4 December 1994 |title=Décret du 3 décembre 1994 portant promotion et nomination |trans-title=Decree of 3 December 1994 on promotion and appointment |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000551014 |journal=Official Journal of the French Republic |volume=1994 |issue=281 |id=PREX9412415D |language=fr |access-date=9 March 2025}}
• Officer of the Legion of Honour: 1998

• Michel Platini, "Ma vie comme un match", 1987

{{reflist}}

• Tournon Philippe, Platini, le football en fête, Paris, Alta Sport, 1977
• Collectif, Michel Platini : l'album photos, Paris, PAC, December 1982

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{FFF player}}
• {{UEFA player}}
• {{FIFA player}}

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{{France football squad 1976 Summer Olympics}}

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