In the strangest turn of events the latest Ballon d’Or ceremony has finished with a triumph of the Spaniard Rodri. It might be a shocker: an inconspicuous and not the brightest, but the most important hero in the system of the team, who won the Premier League for a consecutive season, since most pundits already gave a win to Vinicius Junior.
But the saddest thing is that it was hardly a rivalry: after 15 years of Messi and Ronaldo sharing the stage it seems that Mbappe and Haaland hasn’t become a worthy challenger for the crown yet. So let’s come back in time when Argentinian dribbling and passion clashed with French tactical knowledge and talent and it was hard to compete with the two.
A Struggle Between Styles and Ideologies
A leader on the field and cult figure outside, Maradona was seen as an inspiration to those who believed that football was all about flair and passion. Despite his relatively small stature, he dominated the field and impressed with his ability to transform a match on his own.
Platini, on the other hand, was the epitome of French elegance and finesse. His approach to football was structured and cerebral. With an amazing technical ability, accurate passing and an almost machine precision in his free kicks and penalty kicks, Platini became a leadership figure and a pioneer of tactical thinking in football. His playing was more methodical and logical, creating a contrast to Maradona’s more intuitive approach. Many believed that Platini represented European discipline, while Maradona stood as the symbol of South American spontaneity.
In their respective countries, they were national icons, and at the international level, they were the faces of two different ways of playing football. Their rivalry was not just a sporting one, but an ideological one between continents, cultures, and styles.
Matches in Italy: a Duet in Serie A
With their arrival in Serie A, they both became national icons – Maradona as the hero of Southern Naples after his transfer in 1984 and Platini as the symbol of success and class in Northern Turin. The rivalry was further heightened by the socio – economic tensions between Northern and southern Italy, making Maradona something of a folk hero, an outsider who beat the rich in the north. The matches between Juventus and Napoli were not just matches for points, but represented a larger social struggle, which attracted fans far beyond the borders of Italy.
The two clubs repeatedly fought for the Championship, and both Maradona and Platini showed their best games on this stage. The individual performances of the two players, combined with the intense matches between Napoli and Juventus, created an atmosphere in which spectators became witnesses of a kind of football theater of the highest level. Each match was a mini-battle in their larger war for recognition and status.
Technical Ability and Creativity: a Look at Their Game
Looking at their technical abilities, it is clear that both Maradona and Platini were players who could change a match with a single move. Maradona had a formidable acceleration and could dribble opponents with an almost magical ball control. He could play in small areas and in a few steps turn a match around. His famous solo run against England in the 1986 World Cup, dribbling past several opponents and scoring one of the most iconic goals in world history, shows precisely his flair and individualism.
Platini may have lacked Maradona’s explosive pace, but his precision and overview made him one of the world’s deadliest midfielders. He was a master at reading the game and could send accurate passes which cut through even the strongest defences. His ability to dribble the ball with accuracy was unmatched, and his free kick goals still stand as some of the most elegant in football history. While Maradona was about creating something out of nothing, Platini was about perfection and discipline.
Legacy and Influence: a Rivalry that Surpassed the Results
Maradona and Platini both retired from international football with impressive merits. Maradona’s influence is still seen in Naples, where he is considered a saint. For the fans who saw him play, he is the symbol of a time when Napoli could stand up to the great powers of football. Platini, who went on to play a significant role at UEFA, has left a legacy that goes far beyond the pitch. He represented the best of French football and the European approach to the game.
Although Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the last two decades and have created their own iconic rivalry, Maradona and Platini remind us that football is not just about statistics and titles. Their rivalry was about identity, style and culture and it is proof that football has a deep human dimension.
A Time That Never Comes Back
While we admire today’s stars, it is worth remembering these pioneers who paved the way. Their story reminds us that great rivalries are not only about competition, but also about pushing the boundaries of what is possible in football. Their accomplishments and rivalry were propagated through newspaper articles, television clips, and word-of-mouth stories, which made them legends.
The Maradona-Platini era is remembered as a time when football was about more than just winning – it was about winning in its own way and representing something bigger than itself. It was a time when football was really the game of the people and where every match between them was a symbolic battle of ideologies and styles.
Maradona and Platini gave us a rivalry that still feels alive even though time has moved on. Their duel reminds us that football can be more than just a game.
