Michel Platini was born on 21 June 1955 in Jœuf, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. His parents were of Italian descent, though they were both born in France. Coming from a modest background, Platini took to football at a young age, reportedly beginning to play at just seven years old. His father, Aldo Platini, was a former professional footballer who later managed the local club AS Nancy.
Encouraged and supported by his father, Michel Platini joined AS Nancy’s youth team. Despite a setback during a 1969 youth tournament, his talent remained evident. In 1972, under his father’s management, he was signed to the senior team of AS Nancy. Over the following seven years, Platini developed into a top-tier midfielder, leading the club to several notable victories, including winning the Coupe de France in 1978.
In 1979, after making a significant mark at Nancy, Platini signed with AS Saint-Étienne, one of France’s most prominent clubs at the time. While his tenure there was less celebrated than his spells at other clubs, he still played an instrumental role in helping the team win the French league title in 1981. Despite Saint-Étienne’s domestic success, Platini's personal performances saw both highs and lows during this period.
In 1982, Michel Platini transferred to Italian giants Juventus. Though his initial displays drew some criticism, he quickly adapted and became a central figure for the club. He helped Juventus win the Serie A in the 1983–84 and 1985–86 seasons. Platini also led Juventus to victory in the 1984 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the 1985 European Cup—scoring the decisive goal in the final against Liverpool.
From 1983 to 1985, Platini won the Ballon d’Or three consecutive times, an accolade awarded to the best footballer in the world. He also topped Serie A’s scoring charts for three straight seasons during this period, demonstrating his exceptional ability as a goal-scoring midfielder.
The 1985 European Cup Final between Juventus and Liverpool, held at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, was overshadowed by a tragic incident. Just before the match began, rioting between the two sets of fans led to the collapse of a wall, resulting in the deaths of 39 people and injuries to over 600 others. Platini scored the winning goal from a penalty in the match, although the victory remained deeply marred by the tragedy.
Platini faced some criticism for celebrating the goal, though later clarified he had not been fully aware of the scale of the disaster during the game. The Heysel tragedy remains one of the darkest days in football history.
| Birth Date: | 21 Jun, 1955 |
| Age: | 64 yrs |
| Citizenship: | France |
| Birth Place: | Jœuf |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | French association football player, manager and executive |
| Net Worth 2021: | 15 million |
