Michel Platini, a former football legend—notably with the French national team—was asked by L’Equipe to reflect on the 2025-2026 Champions League semi-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. While the first leg, which ended 5-4 in PSG’s favor, was hailed by many as a historic match, the former UEFA president saw mostly flaws and preferred the return leg (1-1).
“People talked about the ‘match of the century’ after the 5–4 first leg. Personally, I preferred the 1–1 draw in the return leg,” he stated. “The goalkeepers were like sieves and the defenders even worse—they conceded nine goals, yet we call that the match of the century? It’s really all about showbiz these days. A great defensive play or a fine save is just as beautiful as a goal.”
It is a forthright opinion—typical of Platini. Some will undoubtedly be annoyed and dismiss a man who is now somewhat removed from the active football world. Yet, what he says isn’t unreasonable. Even if there is perhaps some exaggeration, or even a misunderstanding.
This statement raises a massive question—an almost ceaseless debate: what makes a great match? Not everyone shares the same sensibilities or preferences. There are numerous playing philosophies and an even wider variety of players. A tackle can be just as valuable—and as beautiful—as a goal. But one can understand those who prefer a goal; after all, it is the ultimate objective, the long-awaited payoff.
From that perspective, the PSG-Bayern tie was a feast, and it is perfectly fair to savor it—especially given the dramatic momentum shifts that made the whole affair electric. There were some “beautiful” goals, too. However, everyone also noticed that the defenses and goalkeepers were not at their best. That changed in the return leg, which produced a very different scoreline. The attackers also seemed slightly less inspired. It is always a combination of factors.
Everyone is entitled to their own preferences. These were two top-level matches, with different areas of the game shining at different times. It is a shame to use such cutting words—like Platini—as this tends to crush any potential nuance and shuts down the debate.
