The number of free-kicks Platini scored is surreal. Has any other player scored more free-kicks at international level (Zico ??) ? [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H-wgIy8csI"]YouTube - 41 buts de Platini en Equipe de France[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hrn_w-wzuQ"]YouTube - Zinedine Zidane ses 31 buts en equipes de france[/ame]
Great clips. Zico could beat Platini in term of freekicks number over career (Brazil league, SeriA + international) However, I think Platini's freekicks (9goals/41total /72games) at international level is among the TOP3 if the UNO #1 in term of goals rate
I agree about Zico. I think he scored about 80 free-kicks in his carreer. That's insane... Platini actually scored 11 free-kicks with Les Bleus, some of them being absolutely decisive (vs Netherlands in WC82 qualifiers, vs Spain in EC84 final, vs Yugoslavia in WC86 qualifiers etc).
For me TOP5 Freekickers of Football 1- Zico 2- Platini 3- Maradona 4- Didi (or Rivelino?) 5- Mihailovic
He didn't score enough. Among his contemporaries Beckham, Del Piero, Pirlo, Ronaldinho should be ahead of him IMHO.
I agree with Babaorum, Carlos is a bit overated in freekick skills. He was just an "El CANON" who blasted the ball toward the gk and sometimes he depended on the wind factor to help bending it- not exactly bending with his feet like Zico, Platini, Maradona, or ... Beckham hhaha Beckham was also very good but he has ONLY ONE swqeet spot - about 19-23m from goal and offset about 20degree to eitehr side! The other great freekickers like Zico, Platini, Maradona, Mihailovic ... can score from many different spots near to far ... I rate Juninho even higher than Beckham!
I think as far as free kicks are concerned there has been far to many to mention - every player that has been mention you can't argue with plus lots more Gazza - Koeman - Henry.