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Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Michel Platini: From Ballon d’Or swipes to breaking Euros records


Cristiano Ronaldo has usurped Michael Platini as the European Championship’s all-time leading goalscorer after his brace against Hungary.

The Portugal star scored two late on to further etch his name into the record books.

It was an afternoon of history making in all fairness for the Juventus star at the Ferenc Puskas Arena in Budapest.

Rarely will Ronaldo have broken three records in a game, but by playing and scoring the 36-year-old did exactly that.

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He is now the only man to play in five Euros, score in five Euros and lead the overall scoring charts with 11 strikes.

Platini is a proud man and it has to be pointed out that his haul of nine came in one tournament. His nine efforts came in five games as the French won Euro 84.

Cristiano Ronaldo is now the all-time top goalscorer at the Euros
Cristiano Ronaldo is now the all-time top goalscorer at the Euros

The former UEFA President enjoyed a hugely successful career as a player and achieved something Ronaldo never has – a hat-trick of Ballon d’Ors.

And it was while discussing the individual accolade that friction first began between the pair.

Yes they may sit closely together in the Euros scoring charts, but at times they have been worlds apart.

Ronaldo won his third Ballon d’Or in 2014, a year in which he won the Champions League with Real Madrid.

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However Germany also claimed World Cup glory that year and Platini felt one of their starmen would’ve been more deserving of the award.

“Several players deserve the Ballon d’Or, but I’m of the opinion that in a World Cup year this award should go to a world champion,” he told EFE.

“This is in line with what I said four years ago when, in my opinion, the prize should have been awarded to a Spanish player.”

Will Portugal win Euro 2020? Have your say in the comments.

Michel Platini has been outspoken throughout Cristiano Ronaldo's career
Michel Platini has been outspoken throughout Cristiano Ronaldo’s career

Real Madrid leapt to the defence of their player saying: “The Ballon d’Or is an individual rather than collective prize which is awarded annually to the best player in the world, and we believe that, in order to maintain its prestige, those who participate in the vote should take into account exclusively the individual professional achievements of the players.”

Ronaldo clearly felt as if Platini’s comments were a personal attack. Images circulated of the forward shunning the then UEFA President soon after – although he did shake his hand contrary to the images.

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Platini though wasn’t finished there.

Four years later, after winning his fifth Champions League medal, Ronaldo decided to call time on his Madrid career.

Internal issues were among the factors that caused him to seek pastures new and he ultimately headed to Juventus.

The Old Lady were the club where Platini made his mark, winning all his Ballon d’Ors as well as a European Cup in 1985, something Ronaldo is yet to do in Italy.

The Frenchman didn’t shy away in making his feelings known on the Portugal star’s move to Turin claiming it made no sense at his age.

Platini said at the time: “I think it’s odd that at 33 years of age he’s left ‘his’ Real Madrid, with who he has won three Champions Leagues in a row, to try a new adventure.

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“When I was 32 lots of teams wanted me, but I retired because I was tired.

“I can’t understand the move.

“I do not know if Juventus has contacted him or if it was (Jorge) Mendes who offered him, I cannot understand this operation.”

Ronaldo’s Juventus future is now in doubt after what has been, by all accounts, a disappointing three years.

Despite previously being outspoken on the Portuguese star Platini has been complimentary in recent times.

“Ronaldo’s Abilities cannot be questioned. We will miss him when he finishes his career,” he said.

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