Elegant midfielder Michel Platini was perhaps the best passer of the ball the UFWC has ever seen, not to mention a deadly free-kick specialist, and an incredibly prolific goalscorer.

‘He could thread the ball through the eye of a needle, as well as finish,’ remarked Bobby Charlton, of a player who left an indelible mark on the Unofficial Football World Championships.

Born in 1955, Platini scored a remarkable 41 goals in 72 games from midfield for France, including 15 goals in just 18 UFWC games. He has the same number of UFWC goals as Pele, and many would argue that Platini was the better footballer.

After skippering his country to European Championships and UFWC glory in 1984, Platini was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honour. He was voted European Footballer of the Year three times in a row in 1983, 1984, and 1985, and World Player of the Year in 1984 and 1985. He later managed France, but failed to match his successes as a player.

Like many of football’s greatest players, Platini never won the World Cup but he can at least add the UFWC title to his impressive list of honours.

During his country’s successful UFWC reign at Euro 84, Platini pulled off a rare footballing feat that still amazes today. In two consecutive games, against Belgium and Yugoslavia, the French captain scored two consecutive ‘perfect’ hat-tricks (one goal with the left foot, one with the right, and one with the head).

Granted, the second goal against Belgium was a right-footed penalty, but they all count.

The first of the six goals was the best: Platini laid a free-kick short to Luis Fernadez, whose thunderous shot hit the crossbar. Platini pounced on the rebound, driving the ball home from the edge of the box.

You can see both hat-tricks in the videos below:

1. Michel Platini UFWC hat-trick vs Belgium, 16 June 1984

2. Michel Platini UFWC hat-trick vs Yugoslavia, 19 June 1984

Hall of Fame France

In the build-up to the Japan vs J-League XI charity match, here’s a look back at a previous UFWC title match involving the current unofficial football champions, unfortunately for Japan ending in a heavy defeat:

CLASSIC UFWC TITLE MATCH:

France 5-0 Japan
24 March 2001
Friendly
Stade de France, Paris
Scorers: Zidane (pen), Henry, Wiltord, Trezeguet (2)

This second attempt by Japan to win the UFWC title ended in a crushing defeat – although the scoreline may have been a little harsh. Official European champions and unofficial world champions France had gone five games without loss (six if you include a 2-1 win over a FIFA Stars XI) since winning the Euro and UFWC titles.

The great Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the ninth minute, and Thierry Henry added a second five minutes later, firing the ball underneath the squirming body of goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki from a narrow angle.

But it wasn’t all about France, and Japan’s Hidetoshi Nakata almost pulled a goal back with an incredible 20-yard shot that smacked against the top corner of the goalframe.

In the second half, Nakata again threatened to put Japan back into the game with another long-range shot that stung the hands of French keeper Ulrich Rame.

But it was France who scored the next goal, with substitute Sylvain Wiltord heading home from close range following a Zidane corner.

Another sub, David Trezeguet, the man who had grabbed the golden goal in the Euro final, scored a fourth in the 61st minute, and a fifth in the 68th.

Despite being 5-0 down, Japan continued to push forward, with Nakata unleashing another long-range effort that narrowly missed the target. But the Samurai Blue were well beaten by unofficial world champions Les Bleus.

France lost the UFWC title in their next match, losing 2-1 to Spain.

Classic Matches France, japan

CLASSIC UFWC TITLE MATCH:

Brazil 0-3 France
13 July 1998
World Cup Final, Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Scorers: Zidane (2), Petit

The greatest night in the history of French football began with confusion and controversy. Brazil’s official team sheet showed that mercurial striker Ronaldo, already the scorer of four goals in the tournament, had been replaced in the line up by Edmundo. Brazil fans and neutrals were united in disappointment, believing they had been robbed of a chance to see perhaps the world’s best player on the world’s best stage.

Rumours circulated that Ronaldo was injured, had been taken to hospital, and had not travelled to the game. Then, in a remarkable turnaround, Brazilian officials issued a new team sheet, with Ronaldo restored to the line up, and his name marked in large capital letters. Further rumours suggested that powerful unknowns, be they governing bodies or sponsors, had demanded Ronaldo play, whatever his state of fitness.

The unfortunate Edmundo, nicknamed ‘The Animal’, was understandably unhappy, and was said to have been at the centre of a rather heated debate in the Brazilian dressing room. It was later reported that Ronaldo had suffered a convulsive fit just hours before the game, apparently as a result of emotional stress.

Whatever the truth, the Brazil team took to the field for this World Cup / UFWC double-header holding hands but apparently in disarray. The stadium PA system played the theme from Star Wars, highly appropriate if Brazil’s big names were at loggerheads.

Even the most causal observer could see that something was awry. Ronaldo was clearly unfit, a shadow of himself, and barely able to touch the ball. Talented individuals like Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, and Bebeto should still have given France a good game.

But the French also had excellent players, including Marcel Desailly, Didier Deschamps, and Zinedine Zidane. And the night that was supposed to belong to Ronaldo ended up belonging to Zidane.

Despite being seen to vomit on the pitch, ‘Zizou’ scored twice in the first half, heading home corner kicks from both flanks. By way of response Brazil rarely threatened, although French keeper Fabian Barthez looked characteristically shaky, and almost dropped a couple of crosses into his own net.

Desailly was sent off in the second half, but Brazil were unable to turn their man advantage into goals. Indeed, with Brazil foraging up front, substitute Patrick Viera sent fellow Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit through to score a third killer goal in injury time.

At the final whistle Brazilian players and fans were reduced to tears. Such a comprehensive defeat was hard for them to bear. But there was joy for France, with Deschamps becoming the first French captain to lift the World Cup.

Zidane, despite having been sent-off in the first round, emerged as the star of the tournament, and a national hero. He had, within the space of 90 minutes, arguably eclipsed even the amazing achievements of the great Michel Platini.

The French partied into the night, with over a million revellers packing the Champs Elysees in Paris. Who knows how many more might have turned up if they had known that they had also won the UFWC..?

This is an edited extract from the Unofficial Football World Champions book, which tells the story of the UFWC via more than 100 classic title matches. Get more details here.

Classic Matches brazil, France