Ronaldo, Hierro, Stojkovic, Hagi and the others wish a “Happy Birthday” to Michel Platini
BRAZIL (Group A)
Roberto CARLOS (6)
“We have all been friends of FRANCE, especially me, since our match against them in the Tournoi de FRANCE (1-1). With these good memories, I wish you a very happy birthday and would also like to share my appreciation for the organisation of the World Cup and your way of thinking. Feliz anniversario.”
DUNGA (8)
“My best wishes to you, Platini, for taking on the daunting task of organising the World Cup and doing it so well. I hope that this extraordinarily successful World Cup adds yet another ribbon to your bow, and I hope that you continue for many years to be the winner that you’ve always been. All of Brazilian football extends their best wishes to you.”
RONALDO (9)
“Thank you, Platini, for this chance to wish you a happy birthday despite the bad news of the past few days. We see the good organisation and your name is written all over it. I wish you joy and good health on your special day, and hope that you’ll always be by our side. It’s very good to know that someone who thinks like us, the players, a part of the organisation of the World Cup, a part of FIFA, and a part of football in general.”
NORWAY (Group A)
The delegation
“Besides his well-known qualities as a player, the NORWAY delegation emphasises his very good work for the World Cup and his excellent organisation.”
Ole Gunnar SOLSKJAR (20)
“Since the age of 11, I have been impressed by Michel Platini during EURO 84. Along with ZICO, MARADONA, and DALGLISH, he is one of the best players in the world. I have tried to copy his free kicks, but I very quickly realised that I wasn’t up to the task.”
SCOTLAND (Group A)
Gordon DURIE (9)
“He’s a year older than he was last week. Happy birthday.”
Gary McAllister
“He’s a legend, and I wish this legend a very happy birthday.”
CHILE (Group B)
Ronald FUENTES (3)
“On your birthday, I wish you much luck in your future work with FIFA.”
Fabian ESTAY (20)
“I hope that this will be a great day for you. A perfect World Cup is the best gift that we could give you.”
Ivan ZAMORANO (9)
“I want you to have a birthday that is as magical as your football career.”
ITALY (Group B)
Cesar MALDINI, coach
“He’s 43 years old, and he’s already had an outstanding career. I hope that the career that he’s about to embark on will be just as outstanding.”
Gigi RIVA
“I hope that his new career path is as successful as his time on the field.”
Alessandro DEL PIERO (10)
“I hope that he always feels as good as he feels now.”
CAMEROON (Group B)
The delegation
“On the occasion of your 43rd birthday, the Lions Indomptables team from CAMEROON, wishes you a happy birthday and much success in all of your future undertakings.”
AUSTRIA (Group B)
Andreas HERZOG (10)
“Michel Platini has always been an example to me. I followed his career and found it to be more impressive than Diego MARADONA’s. When I’m playing at my best, I try to copy his offensive midfield playing style.”
Tony POLSTER (19)
“Once the stress of the World Cup is gone, I think he should go play a game of tennis in Turin with his friend Aldo, and then he should relax a bit.”
Herbert PROHASKA, coach
“The team and I wish him a very happy birthday. We hope that this World Cup will be wonderful and successful for him, especially after the sad passing of his partner and friend.”
SOUTH AFRICA (Group C)
Philippe TROUSSIER, coach
“To make Michel Platini happy, the SOUTH AFRICA team will train in red, green and yellow shoes.”
FRANCE (Group C)
Aimé JACQUET, coach
“In this exceptional year, and during this exceptional event, I hope with all my heart that he will become the exceptional leader that we all expect he will.”
SPAIN (Group D)
Andoni ZUBIZARRETA (1)
“Michel was a great player and I think that he is well on his way to becoming a high-ranking administrator. The superb organisation of this World Cup is proof of his abilities. I want to wish him a very happy birthday.”
Fernando HIERRO (6)
“Platini knew the joys of being an excellent player. I wish him the same success in his future endeavors. Happy birthday, Michel!”
PARAGUAY (Group D)
The delegation
“The entire delegation, technical staff and players, would like to extend our warmest and most heartfelt wishes to Michel Platini on his birthday. We hope that on your birthday you’ll be surrounded by all your friends and loved ones and that this will be a good omen for a fruitful life for French and world football.”
THE NETHERLANDS (Group E)
The delegation
“Michel, we wish you a very happy birthday, and we are thrilled that this World Cup has been so well organised, and has a real spirit of fellowship. Good luck for the rest of this adventure, as well as for your future work with FIFA.”
YUGOSLAVIA (Group F)
Ivan Kurkovic
“Michel Platini’s position, celebrity, and career speak for themselves; he is a monument. He represents FRANCE all around the world. I am very happy that I was able to spend a part of my career with him. I wish him a very happy birthday and a long and healthy life filled with success. Michel is the guiding light for French football.”
Dragan STOJKOVIC (10)
“He is a man who had many great moments in his career as a player and is now enjoying the same success within world football administration. He is indispensable to world football.”
ROMANIA (Group G)
Anghel IORDANESCU, coach
“We greatly admire him for being such an outstanding player, for his long and fruitful career, and for his ceaseless devotion to the game of football. We hope that his future work and love of football will soon allow him to encourage growth in world football. Happy birthday, Michel Platini.”
Gheorghe HAGI (10)
“Michel Platini, the great number 10, born on Midsummer’s Day, also the “fête de la musique”, is a symbol for world football here in FRANCE. All players who now wear the number 10 idolise Platini. He is a modern-day D’Artagnan who can win any war. Thank you Michel, thank you for everything.”
COLOMBIA (Group G)
The delegation
“The players and management of the COLOMBIA team send their best wishes to Michel Platini. They wish him a very happy birthday, congratulate him on the superb organisation of FRANCE 98, and hope his future with FIFA is even more fruitful. Good luck.”
ARGENTINA (Group H)
Diego SIMEONE (8)
“I wish Michel Platini a very happy birthday. In my opinion, he was one of the greatest footballers of our generation, along with PELE and Diego MARADONA. I would also like to thank him for all the work he has done as the head of the organisation of this World Cup.”