For most of the 1980s, Michel Platini was the most dominant midfielder in Europe, and the Ballon d'Or voters agreed three times running. He won it in 1983, 1984 and 1985, the first player ever to take it three years in a row.
Nine goals in five games
Euro 1984 is the tournament that settles the argument. Platini finished top scorer with 9 goals in 5 matches, including two hat-tricks, and he scored the opening goal of the final as France won the trophy. Nine goals from midfield in a single tournament may be the best individual tournament any European player has had.
The Juventus years
In Italy he was just as productive. He won two Serie A titles with Juventus and the European Cup in 1985, and he scored 68 Serie A goals in 147 league games, a remarkable return for a midfielder.
Pelé later named him in the FIFA 100, the list of the greatest living players.
He scored goals that did not look possible and made chances other players could not see. For three years he was the best player in Europe, and three consecutive Ballon d'Or awards say the rest.
Tomorrow: the top three begins with number 3.
