Best French Player of All-Time

[DutchCane]

It has been a pleasure, and an honour to have watched Zidane all his career. As a man old enough to remember the great Platini, I have to take issue with the "mentally tougher" stance. I hope this doesn't offend, but France was not the power that they are now when Platini drove Les Blues to through the Copa of 1982, and 1986. Yes, Zizou gave the French people the Copa in 1998, and he looks undoubtedly magnificent in his swansong HOWEVER I cannot say that Platini was mentally weaker. I recall him being failed by shoddy goalkeeping and bad defense in Spain 82, and in 86.

I still recall that painful night when Schumacher obliterated Batiston and nary a foul was called. Imvho Platini's Blues suffered from some really bad refereeing mistakes and just all out bad luck.

Also I would pick Zizou's Goalie and Defense over what Platini had. Particularly in Goal I would take 98 over 82. In any event, they are both great champions and I feel that Platini is no lesser a champion than Zizou. Sure the impetus for greatness starts with one individual BUT it can only be fullfilled by a team. Zizou's teams have just been better, and imvho its not even close.

Again, all the best to Zizou and Les Blues.

Good day.

[Nikogfrog]

Not at all. Why don't you remember how poor Zidane was in France 98 (pre-final) or how he did nothing all season long, except score that great goal against Leverkusen in the final of the CL? Zidane has had the fortune of doing great things on great stages and it makes people forget about how invisible he had previously been. I'm not saying he isn't a great player but people need some perspective. Like France, he was woeful in the early games and has only played well in two (Spain/Brazil). Yet somehow that is enough for people to be saying that he is 'back', better than Ronaldinho, player of the tournament, etc. The hype surrounding him is unreal at times. I mentioned those other players for a reason. Check out their careers and impact, then contrast that Zidane.

:confused:
How he did nothing all season long???? Ask real Madrid fans and they'll all tell you he was among the few to live up to expectations till the end of the season. Only good against Spain and Brazil??? While he was recognized as exceptional during those games, he was also considered very good when playing against Portugal and Italy by most of the International press, disregarding his losing his nerves against Materazzi. The hype is unreal???!! well, just check the number of kids who love him all around the world!!!

Check out their carrers and impact: Ok, World champion, European Championship winner, French, Italian and then Spanish championships winner, European league winner. He's won everything a football player can possibly win!! can you please name players with a similar achievement?
The man has invented gestures (I mean, except the unforgivable headbutt!!) that only few players can do.

Of course, he's been inconsistent, but the same could be said about Kaka, Rohnaldinho, Henry, Nedved, Tchevchenko, Robinho, Totti, Del Piero..just to name a few...How is it possible to maintain the same level of performance for a whole career?

I am not saying is the best, but when Marcello Lippi says Zidane is "certainly one of the best players of the last 20 years", I'd rather believe him than the misled point you've made here!!

[Sempre]

Platini for me.

The way he scored 9 goals (as an attacking midfielder, no less)
at Euro '84 is evidence of the sort of impact he had on teams. No
player has ever single-handedly dominated a tournament like that
and it was France's first win at a major tournament.

The idea that Zidane has led France to World Cup glory has always
been highly questionable - I feel that legendary defense (Thuram,
Desaiilly, Blanc, etc.) had a greater impact.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I am not saying is the best, but when Marcello Lippi says Zidane is "certainly one of the best players of the last 20 years", I'd rather believe him than the misled point you've made here!!

"...one of..."

In terms of talent I don't disagree, as I have stated several times previously. He is certainly up there for consideration, although I do feel he falls short of being up there with the very best of the last 20 years, purely in terms of overall impact on his teams. Stating the 'PC' opinion that he is one of the best players of the last 20 years is fine. What isn't fine is some of the frankly outrageous statements posted about him being the best French player ever and one of the greatest players of all time, with the myth thrown in for fun. I'm not here to bash Zidane but to address some of these ludicrous, fundamentally incorrect and frankly biased opinions that get thrown around when Zidane is mentioned. If some people cannot accept that and feel the need to spit the dummy, then so be it. It just proves that when they get called out on their opinion, they are incapable of backing it up.

[KRAVAEN]

I disagree.

Nobody, not even the great Cheat, Maradona nor Pele beat teams by themselves. Nobody!
They may have greatly influenced the match but it takes 11 players to win.
It's the job of the Keeper to keep the ball out of the net.
It's the job of the Back line to keep the ball from getting to the keeper.
It's the job of the Midfield to get the ball up to the strikers.
It's the job of the Strikers to get the ball into the net.

All of which, I'm sure you and everyone else is aware of.

I personally think Zizou is one of the greatest players of all time, but here is the distinction between the "past" and "present". That's just it, Past vs Present. Ball's were different, the pitch was different. The players and style of play were different. Everything was different.

I think Zizou is the greatest player of the past several decades and Pele is of the past. I don't think Platini was as good nor skilled as Zizou. Just my opinion. I think if Platini won so many matches on his own, then he would have won hardware. Zizou has done this, including on the biggest stage of all.

I think Platini ranks in the top 10, that's forsure. But better than Zizou, I don't believe so. I think Zizou is better than Maradona. To me, he was a cheat. And not just speaking of the HOG in Mexico either. As for skill, watch some of his old matches. He just ran at people like a bull. Kicked the ball ahead and ran for it. Don't get me wrong, he did have skills. Better than most. That's just how I feel about it.

Zizou is the best in my opinion. Hands down. He influenced the Final's in 98. He influenced Euro 2000. In Portugal for Euro 2004, he inspired the comeback win over England. Just one of many France matches that he inspired and held great influence over.

What???:eek:
All right there?

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Particularly ironic considering the number (and nature) of red cards that Zidane accumulated throughout his career.

[ELADO]

As of Monday morning, two things will separate Zidane from Platini: two world cup wins. That's a huge difference, any way you cut it.

Zidane and Platini aren't directly comparable, they play the same position but are very different and have had very different teams. Platini had one of the best midfields in the history of the game with Tigana and Giresse, but also talents like Bathenay and Michel in the lesser known early era. Look at the go-ahead goal vs portugal in the Euro 84, Tigana had a fantastic run through the wing and served Platini on a platter. Vieira, Makelele or Malouda could never put up such a run. (Ribery might down the road.)

While Zidane holds the ball and keeps possession, proding and moving forward, Platini distributes the ball within a very fluid attacking midfield. Platini is smaller (by 6cm), and 7 Kg lighter. Both players had god-like touches. Zidane has a more physical and street-like dueling and dribbling style, Platini was a bit more graceful.

Ultimately, both players are technically even. What separates them is that Zidane is stronger mentally, he is able to rise to the occasion, inspire his teammates and will his team to victory.

As far as I'm concerned, after leading his country to its second world cup, he will be the greatest football player ever.
well now that he did not do it what is he? even if he did it you cant rank him above pele who lead his country to 3 world cup titles

[xTottixCorex]

well now that he did not do it what is he? even if he did it you cant rank him above pele who lead his country to 3 world cup titles
pele didn't lead his country to 3, he played in them. he was a super sub in 58', didn't play a full game in 62' and was the central forward to the 5 man attacking force of 70'. so for you to say pele "lead" brazil to 3 world cup's is a piece of bullshit.

[brassmonkey]

Platini was amazing, but several things need to be pointed out. First of all, even though both he and Zizou were midfielders, Platini played so far up front he might as well be considered a forward and Zidane played really deep, more like a CM than a CAM, so obviously Platini was going to have more goals. Now as far as club performance goes, Platini played on the best Juve side of all time, while Zidane played for Juve at a time when they were in transition for the most part. Zizou acted as a perfect link between the defense and the attack, gluing everything together and making the players around him better by setting them up and complimenting them. Greatest player of all time? Thats probably a stretch. Best midfielder of all time? I'd say so.

I personally love both and I'd take Platini over ALMOST any other footballer, but not Zidane

[dor02]

Greatest player of all time? Thats probably a stretch. Best midfielder of all time? I'd say so.If that's the case, were do you rate Maradona? Do you classify him as a forward?

I don't remember Zidane creating any link between defence and midfield. He did play a bit withdrawn than Platini but not in a manner that would force him to play a Vieira-type game.

[brassmonkey]

If that's the case, were do you rate Maradona? Do you classify him as a forward?

I don't remember Zidane creating any link between defence and midfield. He did play a bit withdrawn than Platini but not in a manner that would force him to play a Vieira-type game.

I classify Maradona as a forward, as I do Pele. As far as rating him goes, I'd probably put him at #2 behind Pele, although I could justify giving him the #1 if his career hadn't died at 29-30. Actually Platini almost played a role similar to Maradona.

By creating a link I don't mean he was a CDM like Vieira, I mean he controlled both sides of the match and could get the ball from the defense and set up a forward seamlessly. Zidane had unparalleled vision.

[ELADO]

pele didn't lead his country to 3, he played in them. he was a super sub in 58', didn't play a full game in 62' and was the central forward to the 5 man attacking force of 70'. so for you to say pele "lead" brazil to 3 world cup's is a piece of bullshit.

PELE WAS NOT A SUPERSUB IN THE 58 WORLD CUP. GET YA FACTS STR8! HE WAS INJURED UNTILL THE LAST GAME OF THE FIRST ROUND AND FROM THE ON HE STARTED EVRY GAME INCLUDING THE FINALS. HEY DO YOU REMEMBER THE 3 GOALS HE SCORED AGAINST FRANCE IN THE QURTEFINALS AND THE 2 GOALS HE SCORE IN THE FINALS AGAINST SWEDEN WELL, IN THAT WORLD CUP HE HAD 6 GOALS AND THE MAIN REASON BRASIL WON AND AT THE AGE OF 17 TOO. IN 1970 HE WAS THE LEADER OF THAT TEAM. PELE MADE THAT 70 TEAM WORK. IN THE FINALS AGANST ITALY HE SCORE THE OPENING GOAL AND HAD 2 ASSIST AND NON ON PENALTIES:D

[luciusmagister]

This question is too easy. It is Zidane and it really isn't even that close.

[Curious]

This question is too easy. It is Zidane and it really isn't even that close.

no doubt about it:D

[hypolithe_forever]

Zidane
Platini
Cantona

[Ballon d'or Identity]

PLATINI, no doubt about it.
Of course he didn't win a WC, but remember that at the time everyone in the french team was playing in France but him, depriving the french team from crucial international experience.
Had they had that, they would never have lost to Germany in 82 after having led 3-1 with fifteen minutes to play.

Zidane was part of a team with a huge calcio influence, and that made the difference.
Still, if you remember WC 98, Zidane was good but not great. He only was in the final. Defense got us winning that year.

That said, i chose Platini because not only did he have incredible vision on the pitch but he also scored a lot. He was top scorer in the Calcio at a time where defence was "the thing" in Italy...and he was a midfielder.

Platini took France to its first title ever by scoring nine goals in Euro 84 in six games.
He is the best scorer of the french team ever with players like Papin, Cantona, Trézeguet or Henry finding it hard to approach this record despite them being forwards while i remind you Platini was a midfielder.

Zidane is better technically but football isn't judged on aesthetic.
Yes Platini, no doubt.

[Beautiful Game 2010]

If you saw Euro 84, you can only say Platini is number one. What Platini did at Euro 84 surpasses any other performance by anyone at a major tournament, including Maradona at Mexico 86. If France had not been robbed by the referee in the Spain 82 Semifinal and if Platini had not been injured at both Spain 82 and Mexico 86, France would probably have 2 more World Cup trophies. For those of you too young to have seen it, do yourself a favor and watch some Euro 84 matches when Platini was healthy. There has never been anyone else like him, before or since.

[United_xxx]

As for skill, watch some of his old matches. He just ran at people like a bull. Kicked the ball ahead and ran for it. Don't get me wrong, he did have skills. Better than most. That's just how I feel about it.


He also scored a lot of great goals. By the way, what do you want him to do other than that? Headbutt, stamping on other players, puching, elbowing, clinching, kneeing ... :D

Reply to the thread ... I like Zidane most.

[dor02]

If you saw Euro 84, you can only say Platini is number one. What Platini did at Euro 84 surpasses any other performance by anyone at a major tournament, including Maradona at Mexico 86. If France had not been robbed by the referee in the Spain 82 Semifinal and if Platini had not been injured at both Spain 82 and Mexico 86, France would probably have 2 more World Cup trophies. For those of you too young to have seen it, do yourself a favor and watch some Euro 84 matches when Platini was healthy. There has never been anyone else like him, before or since.I agree with the fact that Platini was phenomenal in 1984. In 1982, if France had reached the Final, I'm sure Rossi would have had a say on the final outcome. ;)

[Ballon d'or Identity]

I agree with the fact that Platini was phenomenal in 1984. In 1982, if France had reached the Final, I'm sure Rossi would have had a say on the final outcome. ;)
Yeah, the french team wouldn't have won in the final.
No experience at this level (either with the national squad or clubs), and the semi-final was so hard physically that it was no wonder the germans and the french lost in the final and for the third place match.

I'm more dissapointed by 86, unfortunaly, there again we had a match of incredible intensity against Brazil so...
Those two matches are legends though.