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Episode Description
The Numbers Behind the Legend
Michel Platini scored 41 goals in 72 appearances for the France national team between 1976 and 1987, an impressive average of 0.57 goals per game for a midfielder . He became France's all-time top scorer on June 19, 1984, surpassing Just Fontaine's previous record . His record stood until October 17, 2007, when Thierry Henry broke it . https://kubetff.com/
The Unforgettable Euro 1984
Platini's most extraordinary achievement came at the 1984 European Championship, where he scored a record nine goals in just five matches . He scored in every single game of the tournament, including two consecutive hat-tricks against Belgium and Yugoslavia .
His goal tally included:
- Opening goal against Denmark (78th minute)
- A perfect hat-trick against Belgium (left foot, right foot, header)
- Another perfect hat-trick against Yugoslavia
- The dramatic 119th-minute winner against Portugal in the semi-final
- The opening goal in the final against Spain
This record stood for 37 years until Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed it in 2021, but Ronaldo achieved his goals across five different tournaments, while Platini's nine came in a single competition .
World Cup and Overall Record
Platini scored five World Cup goals across three tournaments, including a memorable equalizer against Brazil on his 31st birthday at Mexico '86 . His international goals were distributed across friendlies (14), World Cup qualifiers (12), European Championship finals (9), and World Cup finals (5) .
A Legacy That Endures
Despite primarily being an attacking midfielder, Platini's goal-scoring rate was comparable to the best strikers of his era. His 41 goals came at a rate that even modern forwards would admire, cementing his status as one of the greatest players of all time