Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Michel Platini knows a thing or two about quality players and when he gave his opinion on talent, it was worth listening to. Over the course of a 15-year career, he shone with Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus, scoring 297 goals across 550 appearances for the three teams.
He also impressed at an international level, scoring 41 goals for France as he represented his nation on 72 occasions. He also won a European Championship in 1984 with his country. Even once he hung his boots up, Platini's impact in football continued. He spent four years as manager of his nation before then becoming vice-president of the French Football Federation and the president of UEFA as well as a number of other administrative roles.
He was eventually accused of corruption, and was even arrested for awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Despite the controversy, it's safe to say that he knows a thing or two about football and he once described a Manchester United legend as 'everything that is good' in football.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Pele (Brazil), Zinedine Zidane (France) - with maybe a chalkboard showing a 4-4-2 football formation Related
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Platini Praised Sir Bobby Charlton
He was a big fan of the Englishman
Sir Bobby Charlton scored 249 goals with Man Utd
Sir Bobby Charlton is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time and Platini was all too aware of how special a talent he was. The Englishman made a name for himself at United, spending 17 years at Old Trafford and his impact on the club is still fondly remembered to this day. He was even named the best Red Devils player in history by the club's own fans. Platini was also a big fan and in 2009, he discussed Charlton. Via quotes shared by Planet Football, he said:
"Sir Bobby represents everything that is good about the game of football; fair play, respect, and true loyalty and he is a good example for future generations, both on and off the pitch."
He was right on the money, with the late, great Charlton considered an exceptional leader during his time on the pitch for both club and country. He won multiple league titles with the Red Devils and even a World Cup with the England national team. The midfielder is still beloved and there won't be many fans who take issue with what Platini had to say about him.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 23/05/2025