By Mark Baber
July 28 – The on-pitch rivalry between Zico and Platini, two of the greatest goalscoring midfielders ever to grace a football pitch, may be played out again in FIFA’s halls of power if the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) accedes to Zico’s request to put his name forward for FIFA president.
62-year old Brazilian legend Zico has asked his national federation to formally put his name forward for FIFA president although, if he doesn’t get the backing from his FA, he says he has a plan B in mind without giving details.
“The first option is this. I am Brazilian, I gave my services to the Brazilian team for 10 years,” Zico told Globo Esporte.
“I sent a letter to the president (of the CBF)… laying out the reasons for my candidacy and now I’m just waiting for his reply to see whether he makes the commitment or not, if he accepts or not. But I won’t wait long because time is passing rapidly and we have other options.”
Zico, if he stands, would most likely be the second candidate to do so if Michel Platini, as expected, announces this week he wants to take over from Sepp Blatter on February 26.
In terms of footballing performance the two potential adversaries are both legends in their own lifetimes with careers which mirror one another to a remarkable degree.
Michel Platini, was born on June 21th 1955 in Joeuf, France, Arthur Antunes Coimbra ‘Zico’ on March 3rd 1953 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Platini is credited with a total of 666 games played and 358 goals compared to Zico’s 805 matches and 547 goals.
Both players began their careers in domestic football – Platini with AS Nancy Lorraine (1972-79, 214 played, 127 goals scored) and AS Saint-Étienne (1979-82, 145 played, 82 goals scored); Zico with Flamengo (1971-83, 506 played, 378 goals scored) before moving to Italian football.
Whilst Zico joined Udinese, Platini found glory with Juventus playing 224 games (10 goals scored) from 1982 to 1987 as he and the club racked up honours including the Italian Cup, the Calcio twice, UEFA cup winner’s cup, UEFA Super Cup, Champions League and Intercontinental Cup.
Zico’s greatest honours were won in two spells with Flamengo who he helped to four Brazilian championships the Intercontinental Cup and Copa Libertadores as well as six Rio de Janeiro football championships.
Platini played 72 games for France, scoring 41 goals whilst Zico played 72 games for Brazil scoring 52 goals with both players winning 3rd place at a World Cup.
The two players met head-to-head when France met Brazil in an international friendly in April 1978 – with Platini scoring the only goal of the game. But the most significant meeting between the two maestros was in the 1986 World Cup quarter final – where Platini scored in the 41st minute, before Zico came on to the pitch in the 72nd minute. As the game went to penalties Platini missed his, whilst Zico scored. Nevertheless, Platini emerged as the victor as his team mates put France through on penalties.
Platini managed the French national team to 16 victories, 8 draws, 5 defeats before focusing on a career in administration. Zico by contrast has remained in management gaining experience around the world with Kashima Antlers (Japan), the Japanese national team, Fenerbahce (Turkey) Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) CSKA Moscow (Russia) Olympiakos (Greece), the Iraq national team, Al-Gharafa SC (Qatar) and currently FC Goa (India).
Platini’s decades of experience in football administration may be less of an advantage in the battle for the FIFA presidency than may have been the case before the FIFA corruption scandal broke, but Zico may still struggle to receive the required five nominations from national associations if he is to be approved as a candidate by the October 26 deadline.
Perhaps the biggest point of difference between the two protagonists will be over their attitude to the 2022 World Cup, with Platini unrepentant over voting for Qatar whilst Zico has made his position equally clear saying: “With respect to Qatar as a country that wants to grow, you can’t have a World Cup in a country that doesn’t have football.”
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