Best French Player of All-Time

[Beautiful Game 2010]

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.

My point was that the 82 France team should have beaten W. Germany in regulation if the referee had sent off W. German goalkeeper Toni Schumacher for the obvious red card foul. France would have been a man up and against the backup goalkeeper. Remember, France already was playing better than the W. Germans (11 against 11). Also, remember that Platini was not 100%. He would have been closer to 100% for the Final.

In 86, France was obviously tired from the Brazil game and the altitude in the Semifinal. The W. German team was clearly more fit. An aging Alain Giresse looked particularly tired in this game. French goalkeeper Joel Bats made a mistake on a free kick early on allowing the W. German goal which completely changed the game. Although France dominated possession, they could not get the tying goal and when pressing for the equalizer, they conceded a very late goal that ended their chances. My point was that, as in 82, Platini was not 100% in this World Cup.

When he was 100% fit in Euro 84, Platini was magical. My favorite was France 3 Yugoslavia 2 where Platini scored once with his left foot, once with his right foot, and once with a header. Even Pele would have been proud to claim that performance...

[Beautiful Game 2010]

I forgot to add that France had beaten Italy 2-0 before the World Cup in a friendly in 1982. So, I would have liked their chances against the Italians in the 82 Final.

[dor02]

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.That match against Brazil was incredible! Both teams created so many chances and the score could only stay at 1-1! Both teams were great and the only part where both teams needed to improve was in the shooting department.

I forgot to add that France had beaten Italy 2-0 before the World Cup in a friendly in 1982. So, I would have liked their chances against the Italians in the 82 Final.France would have faced a different Azzurri side. France did have a great side but before the World Cup, Italy were in very poor form. The Azzurri drew 1-1 with Switzerland in another friendly and finished behind Yugoslavia in qualifying. Not only that, Rossi only got his shooting boots back on against Brazil.

[Beautiful Game 2010]

France would have faced a different Azzurri side. France did have a great side but before the World Cup, Italy were in very poor form. The Azzurri drew 1-1 with Switzerland in another friendly and finished behind Yugoslavia in qualifying. Not only that, Rossi only got his shooting boots back on against Brazil.

Unfortunately, we will never know for sure. Thanks mostly to that gutless referee in the W. Germany-France Semifinal. France-Italy would have been a much better Final in 82. W. Germany did not give Italy much of a game. Also, remember what Platini did to Italy in Mexico 86?

[NAZIRO10]

i am honest i havent seen platini play, but i have seen lyk 6 of his games(famous ones) and i have seen zidane play. I think futbol is different it takes more skill to be at the best level, before one who had talent had it all but now you need to tactical and other stuff,
i think to be the unchallenged best you need to have
cyuff speed , eusebio shot, beckanbabwers tackle ( i speld it wrong), peles right leg, maradona left, and zidanes vision(includes passing)
i think zidane is better
dey say platini had more indiidual skill doesnt matter is a team sport,
zidane won trophies at all levels of the game
he appered under preassure under difficult games (WC FNALS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS) he had expectacular vision, a fair shot(great header haha), somewhat slow but had great ball control with both legs and great "vision"
i dont think you can line them up because to be good was differnt same essentials btu different abilities.
because zidane was expectacular with all these abilities, i think he is the most complete player the world has eveer known
thats why my best not nessairly in this order goes to
Cryuff, Eusebio, Pele, Maradona, Beckanbawer, and ZIZOU

[dor02]

You can't rely on aesthetics. Them it becomes a case of personal tastes.

Do the research on Platini. The only trophy he didn't win was the World Cup yet he won everything else. Look at Platini's Euro 84. Zidane never had a tornament like that.

[new_world_order-redded]

My point was that the 82 France team should have beaten W. Germany in regulation if the referee had sent off W. German goalkeeper Toni Schumacher for the obvious red card foul. France would have been a man up and against the backup goalkeeper. Remember, France already was playing better than the W. Germans (11 against 11). Also, remember that Platini was not 100%. He would have been closer to 100% for the Final.

In 86, France was obviously tired from the Brazil game and the altitude in the Semifinal. The W. German team was clearly more fit. An aging Alain Giresse looked particularly tired in this game. French goalkeeper Joel Bats made a mistake on a free kick early on allowing the W. German goal which completely changed the game. Although France dominated possession, they could not get the tying goal and when pressing for the equalizer, they conceded a very late goal that ended their chances. My point was that, as in 82, Platini was not 100% in this World Cup.

When he was 100% fit in Euro 84, Platini was magical. My favorite was France 3 Yugoslavia 2 where Platini scored once with his left foot, once with his right foot, and once with a header. Even Pele would have been proud to claim that performance...


In 1982, there was no way France would beat Italy if France had joined in the final. Platini's France wasn't as good as Paulo Rossi's Italian team.

[squidward123]

I searched the board to see if this topic has been created by I did not see anything. I'd figure that the two candidates would be Platini and Zidane. Who do you consider to be the better player? Where would you rank these two among the all-time greats in WORLD soccer?

Platini is the best french player ever for me. In all all-time list, top 10-12 for sure.

Zidane is the best player of the last 10-15 years, but he is overrated in today's media and fan-base in a historical context.

If Zidane played in the 70s, he'd blend in a bit more and would not be a standout no.1. It is just that these days, players of intelligence are rare.

In an all-time list he would be top 30 to 40. Probably 30 on the dot.

[squidward123]

"...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.

Totally agree with this.

[squidward123]

i am honest i havent seen platini play, but i have seen lyk 6 of his games(famous ones) and i have seen zidane play. I think futbol is different it takes more skill to be at the best level, before one who had talent had it all but now you need to tactical and other stuff,
i think to be the unchallenged best you need to have
cyuff speed , eusebio shot, beckanbabwers tackle ( i speld it wrong), peles right leg, maradona left, and zidanes vision(includes passing)
i think zidane is better
dey say platini had more indiidual skill doesnt matter is a team sport,
zidane won trophies at all levels of the game
he appered under preassure under difficult games (WC FNALS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALS) he had expectacular vision, a fair shot(great header haha), somewhat slow but had great ball control with both legs and great "vision"
i dont think you can line them up because to be good was differnt same essentials btu different abilities.
because zidane was expectacular with all these abilities, i think he is the most complete player the world has eveer known
thats why my best not nessairly in this order goes to
Cryuff, Eusebio, Pele, Maradona, Beckanbawer, and ZIZOU

Oh man, have you any idea how Beckenbauer played? He wanted tackling banned altogether!

If there's any award for most complete player ever, it has to be between Beckenbauer and Cruyff. Probably with Beckenbauer edging it (on the basis of elegance and not choking in big international games)

[squidward123]

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 first part in bold as it only considers what players were on the pitch, but the second part I don't agree with, because if Germany had a fit Rummenigge (was half-fit throughout in 82 and 86 and did not play until extra-time in Seville), had Hansi Mueller and Bernd Schuster at all, and a fit Uli Stielike, they would have played much better and had a much better chance of winning WC 1982.


In 86, France was obviously tired from the Brazil game and the altitude in the Semifinal. The W. German team was clearly more fit. An aging Alain Giresse looked particularly tired in this game. French goalkeeper Joel Bats made a mistake on a free kick early on allowing the W. German goal which completely changed the game. Although France dominated possession, they could not get the tying goal and when pressing for the equalizer, they conceded a very late goal that ended their chances. My point was that, as in 82, Platini was not 100% in this World Cup.

The 1986 game was a game of 2 halves. In the first half Germany out-gunned France at their own game (which was a big surprise, given the play of Germany preceding in the tournament), and in the 2nd half France complied, but were just unable to score.

[squidward123]

Laudrop greater then Zidane.... You're killing me Teso. It this isn't the definition of trolling I don't know what is!

Can you even spell it right? You have this habit of mocking any player from the past you aren't too familiar with. I remember your reaction with Netzer and Heynckes.

Laudrup was a maginificent - simple, skillful, elegant, visionary - player who should have had Euro 92 had he not opted out of qualifying for that tournament. He did not go back on his word after Denmark were granted previously unforseen qualification. He also played some magical football at WC 86. Laudrup just didn't have very good Denmark teams to play in consistently during his time.

He was also voted the best foreigner ever to play in La Liga.

[squidward123]

ill go for Zidane - For the simple reason he was voted the best european player for the last 50 years

That poll was quite laughable actually. Voted on by kids. At least they should have made it a magazine or newspaper poll. Or something through TV.