No single player has, nor is ever likely to, repeat the impact that attacking midfielder Michel Platini had on Euro'84. The Juventus FC fantasista scored an incredible 9 goals, including two hat-tricks, and was to France in 1984 what Diego Maradona was to Argentina at the FIFA World Cup two years later. Playing in front of the Luis Fernandez, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse triangle, Platini broke forward to create havoc for defences. He scored the 119th minute winner in the classic 3-2 semi final victory over Portugal, and also broke the deadlock with a free kick in the 2-0 final success against Spain. Simply the best passer in the history of the game. He scored 41 goals in 72 caps for the Les Bleus of France. He is the only player to be voted Ballon d’or European Footballer of the Year 3 times in a row from 1983 – 1985. He is currently the President of UEFA.
In the last 50 years, no Spanish player has won the Ballon d’or for the European Football Player of the Year organised by France Football magazine and the FIFA World Player Award which have been merged and rechristened the FIFA Ballon d'or Awards in 2010. The last man to achieve this feat was Luis Suárez Miramontes of FC Barcelona in 1960.
