The following year, Platini inspired Nancy, a constant relegation threatened team, to the French Cup, and again to Ligue 1 survival. Platini was hoping he could help his country in the World Cup as much as he had helped his club.
In the preceding months of the World Cup, Platini and France faced Italy. Platini was hugely impressive in this match, beating one of the greatest 'keepers of all time, Dino Zoff, with two direct free-kicks.
He impressed so much that Italy adapted their game plan for when they faced France in the World Cup. They made sure to mark Platini out of the game, and without the inspirational spark of the frenchman, "Les Blues" failed to make it past the first round.
The French public made Platini their scapegoat. For the season that followed he was booed by fans wherever he went with Nancy, sometimes even by Nancy fans themselves.
Despite this, Platini, at just 23, was named captain of the French side.
In 1979, Platini's contract at Nancy expired and he moved to St. Etienne. Still trying to shake off the scapegoat tag, Platini helped St. Etienne to the Ligue 1 title in 1981, and two successive, but ultimately unsuccessful, French Cup finals.
In 1982, after three years at St. Etienne, Platini moved from France to Italy and, more specifically, Turin to play for Juventus.
The 1982 World Cup was a more successful one for Platini's France. They surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals, only narrowly losing to West Germany on penalties. This success had finally wiped the previous World Cup from the memories of the players and fans.
Despite a tough start to his Juventus career, it was here that Platini would experience his best days. In his first season at the club he helped them to success in the Italian Cup, and a Coppa Super Clubs winners medal. He also guided them to a European Cup final, in which they were just pipped to the post by Hamburg.
It was an equally successful year individually for Platini. He was the top scorer in the Italian Championships and was voted European Footballer of the Year.
However, it was 1984 that will stand out as Platini's finest hour. At club level he became the first French player to win the Cup Winners' Cup, also triumphing in the European Super Cup and helping Juventus to a Serie A title. He was the league's top scorer for the second consecutive year.
Despite this, it was internationally where he made his biggest impact. More specifically, the 1984 European Championships. He was the stand-out performer of the tournament, dominating all who came before him.
He scored nine goals, including two perfect hat-tricks. Those nine goals were enough to win him the Golden Boot award for the tournament, and that total remains the most amount of goals scored in the European Championships by any individual.
He was named Player of the Tournament as he guided France to their first major international title with a 2-0 win over Spain in the final. He was, unsurprisingly, voted European Footballer of the Year for the second year in a row.
1985 was a season of mixed emotions for Platini. Again he achieved huge success, finishing top scorer in the Italian League for the third consecutive season, and winning the Ballon d'Or for the third successive season as well.
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