Platini Top Ten All-Time?

[gmonn]

I keep seeing younger people rating Platini as a top ten great in world soccer history. I'm always surprised to see this. What do you think?

[WhiteStar Warriors]

I see Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit as well

[Glavisted Big Soccer]

I think he's in the Top 10 surely...

01. Pelé (Brazil)
02. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
03. Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain)
04. Johan Cruyff (Holland)
05. Zinedine Zidane (France)
06. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
07. Michel Platini (France)
08. Garrincha (Brazil)
09. George Best (Northern Ireland)
10. Zico (Brazil)

[gmonn]

I think he's in the Top 10 surely...

01. Pelé (Brazil)
02. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
03. Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain)
04. Johan Cruyff (Holland)
05. Zinedine Zidane (France)
06. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
07. Michel Platini (France)
08. Garrincha (Brazil)
09. George Best (Northern Ireland)
10. Zico (Brazil)

What puts him above Garrincha, George Best, Zico, Eusebio, Ronaldo, Van Basten, Gerd Muller, Rumenigge, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and many more that others could probably name?

[Glavisted Big Soccer]

What puts him above Garrincha, George Best, Zico, Eusebio, Ronaldo, Van Basten, Gerd Muller, Rumenigge, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and many more that others could probably name?
Well, that's have an obvious answer, I think Platini was better than them (some by far as Ronaldinho or Karl-Heinz Rummenigge I think), it's only about opinions.

For example, I can't believe you would consider as a comparison to Ronaldinho, probably I put first as option to Romario.

[gmonn]

Yes, Romario also. I watched Platini when I was a teenager and Ronaldinho for a while now, so yes, I'd put Ronaldinho above him personally. Free kicks Ronaldinho has the edge, passing maybe equal, maybe Ronaldinho with an edge, scoring maybe Platini, dribbling Ronaldinho, creativity and ball control Ronaldinho by a mile.

[FlashMan]

Platini was from my "dawning" era of beginning to watch soccer, watching juast about all of the '82 World Cup on my little kitchen tv on the spanish station, white noise and all, and not really comprehending it all, but amazed pretty much from start to finish. Platini was a magician back then. He stood out as the unquestioned leader of that great French team.

I believe I saw him play in Mexico in '86 v. Italy, personally. He was stifled by the catenaccio of the day, the game ended up a yawn-filled scorless draw, and I didn't get to much true Platini magic in person. (Not that I would have undrestood it then at the time; I was still a beginner at soccer. It was a weird set of circumstances that had me in Mexico City watching the world's game.) I beleve he went on to have another great World Cup, though my memory could be faulty about that.

I don't know much about his club career (can't even recall what club he played for much less how he distinguished himself on it; AC Milano?), but Platini didn't look out of place on that earlier gentleman's list. Though I can imagine players like Kaka, Ronaldhino & (I'm sure others) passing him by one day.

[phil80]

I think he's in the Top 10 surely...

01. Pelé (Brazil)
02. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
03. Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain)
04. Johan Cruyff (Holland)
05. Zinedine Zidane (France)
06. Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
07. Michel Platini (France)
08. Garrincha (Brazil)
09. George Best (Northern Ireland)
10. Zico (Brazil)
George Best is too low on that list, and I would rate him higher than Platini.

[dor02]

1. Maradona
2. Pele
3. Di Stefano
4. Cryuff
5. Beckenbauer
6. Puskas
7. Eusebio
8. Garrincha
9. Maldini
10. Platini

Platini would be higher if he knew how to dribble. He was so great at the other things like passing, shooting and talking free-kicks that it seemed OK for him not to be a great dribbler. As for that guy who made the Ronaldinho and Platini comparison, I doubt that Ronaldinho would have had the ability to score 20 goals in the ultra-defensive days of Serie A or score 9 goals in 5 matches at a major tornament for his country. Sure, he has great skills but he seems to rely more on space than other number 10s.

For those wondering why I left out Best in my Top 10, I don't believe he achieve enough or lived up to his potential to be worthy of a Top 10 place. For talent alone, he would be in my Top Five but in this list, he didn't play at the highest level as long as the likes of Beckenbauer, Di Stefano or Pele did. Di Stefano didn't play at a World Cup but he played until he was nearly 40 and he didn't let fame go to his head.

[Excape Goat]

Yes, Romario also. I watched Platini when I was a teenager and Ronaldinho for a while now, so yes, I'd put Ronaldinho above him personally. Free kicks Ronaldinho has the edge, passing maybe equal, maybe Ronaldinho with an edge, scoring maybe Platini, dribbling Ronaldinho, creativity and ball control Ronaldinho by a mile.

I somewhat agreed with you about this. However, Ronaldinho has the talents, but needs to earn his place in history.

[zenden]

1. Maradona
2. Pele
3. Di Stefano
4. Cryuff
5. Beckenbauer
6. Puskas
7. Eusebio
8. Garrincha
9. Maldini
10. Platini

Platini would be higher if he knew how to dribble. He was so great at the other things like passing, shooting and talking free-kicks that it seemed OK for him not to be a great dribbler. As for that guy who made the Ronaldinho and Platini comparison, I doubt that Ronaldinho would have had the ability to score 20 goals in the ultra-defensive days of Serie A or score 9 goals in 5 matches at a major tornament for his country. Sure, he has great skills but he seems to rely more on space than other number 10s.

For those wondering why I left out Best in my Top 10, I don't believe he achieve enough or lived up to his potential to be worthy of a Top 10 place. For talent alone, he would be in my Top Five but in this list, he didn't play at the highest level as long as the likes of Beckenbauer, Di Stefano or Pele did. Di Stefano didn't play at a World Cup but he played until he was nearly 40 and he didn't let fame go to his head.

Yeah, for a midfielder to be Capocannoniere in back to back to back seasons is incredible. An what he accomplished during the '83-'84 season IMHO will never be duplicated.

Platini in 1984

-Capocannoniere (20 goals)
-Scudetto
-European Cup Winners' Cup
-European Super Cup
-Euro '84 Champ
-Euro '84 player of the tournament
-Euro '84 top goalscorer (9 goals in 5 games)
-Balon D'Or (2nd in consecutive seasons)
-Guerin Sportivo magazine's player of the Italian championship
-L'Équipe French Champion of Champions
-Onze d'Or
-World Soccer's Player of the Year

[gmonn]

Yeah, for a midfielder to be Capocannoniere in back to back to back seasons is incredible. An what he accomplished during the '83-'84 season IMHO will never be duplicated.

Platini in 1984

-Capocannoniere (20 goals)
-Scudetto
-European Cup Winners' Cup
-European Super Cup
-Euro '84 Champ
-Euro '84 player of the tournament
-Euro '84 top goalscorer (9 goals in 5 games)
-Balon D'Or (2nd in consecutive seasons)
-Guerin Sportivo magazine's player of the Italian championship
-L'Équipe French Champion of Champions
-Onze d'Or
-World Soccer's Player of the Year

He had a great Euro tournament and that is the main reason people rank him so high. Look at Zico who played in Serie A at the same time (below). I've left off a lot for Zico, for instance Flamengo heroics, at home and internationally, and leading one of the most memorable teams in history, Brazil '82. And this is just numbers, having watched them both Zico was much better at free kicks (probably the best of all time at free kicks), a passing magician who probably edged Platini, a finisher at least on Platini's level, a much better dribbler, and more athletic than Platini.

"In the 1983-84 Italian League season, Zico scored 19 goals - one less than the championship top scorer Platini, having played 6 matches less than the French footballer."

1983-85 Udinese 56 goals in 79 games 0.69
1983 Player of the Year - World Soccer Magazine (England)
1984 Second highest scorer of the Italian League - 19 goals (Platini had 20, Zico played 6 less games.)
1984 Italian League Player of the Year
Brazil National Team: 66 goals in 88 games 0.75

[Teso Dos Bichos]

05. Zinedine Zidane (France)
07. Michel Platini (France)


I'm sorry but that is just ridiculous. The former does not merit a place in the list and definitely not before Platini.

[dor02]

He had a great Euro tournament and that is the main reason people rank him so high. Look at Zico who played in Serie A at the same time (below). I've left off a lot for Zico, for instance Flamengo heroics, at home and internationally, and leading one of the most memorable teams in history, Brazil '82. And this is just numbers, having watched them both Zico was much better at free kicks (probably the best of all time at free kicks), a passing magician who probably edged Platini, a finisher at least on Platini's level, a much better dribbler, and more athletic than Platini.

"In the 1983-84 Italian League season, Zico scored 19 goals - one less than the championship top scorer Platini, having played 6 matches less than the French footballer."

1983-85 Udinese 56 goals in 79 games 0.69
1983 Player of the Year - World Soccer Magazine (England)
1984 Second highest scorer of the Italian League - 19 goals (Platini had 20, Zico played 6 less games.)
1984 Italian League Player of the Year
Brazil National Team: 66 goals in 88 games 0.75Those stats regarding Zico's days at Udinese must include friendlies and cup competitions. In 1984-85, he only scored three goals in Serie A.

[Glavisted Big Soccer]

I'm sorry but that is just ridiculous. The former does not merit a place in the list and definitely not before Platini.
I think that afirmation is ridiculous.

[xamaicano]

I'm sorry but that is just ridiculous. The former does not merit a place in the list and definitely not before Platini.

I agree. It doesn't take much be called an all time great these days.

[babaorum]

I keep seeing younger people rating Platini as a top ten great in world soccer history. I'm always surprised to see this. What do you think?

I think that a WC winning in 82 or 86 is actually the only thing that prevents Platini (and Zico but it's another debate) from being named in the same breath as Di Stefano, Cruyff and Maradona in a top 5 all-time list. His unbelievable performances for Juve and France in the early/mid 80's makes him a top 10 all-time player. There's no doubt about that. I would say he's in the same league as Garrincha, Eusebio and Zico.

[babaorum]

Yes, Romario also. I watched Platini when I was a teenager and Ronaldinho for a while now, so yes, I'd put Ronaldinho above him personally. Free kicks Ronaldinho has the edge, passing maybe equal, maybe Ronaldinho with an edge, scoring maybe Platini, dribbling Ronaldinho, creativity and ball control Ronaldinho by a mile.

Ronaldinho didn't do enough to be considered in the same league as Platini and the other all-time greats I think. He still has time however. I watched both play. All I can say is that Platini had more influence on the game in terms of playmaking (by far) and he was even a better goalscorer despite playing deepeer on the field. Yes Ronaldinho has more tricks but it's not enough... and he's certainly not a better free-kick taker either.

[babaorum]

I believe I saw him play in Mexico in '86 v. Italy, personally. He was stifled by the catenaccio of the day, the game ended up a yawn-filled scorless draw, and I didn't get to much true Platini magic in person. (Not that I would have undrestood it then at the time; I was still a beginner at soccer. It was a weird set of circumstances that had me in Mexico City watching the world's game.) I beleve he went on to have another great World Cup, though my memory could be faulty about that.



France actually won 2-0 vs Italy in '86. Platini had a very good game, scoring the first goal.

[The Biscuitman]

What puts him above Ronaldinho?

lol