The day Michel Platini briefly became a Kuwait international | OneFootball

With the Trophée des champions between PSG and OM on Thursday at 19:00 in Kuwait, Michel Platini once played for Kuwait against the USSR in 1989, a friendly listed in FIFA’s archives. L'Équipe reports that it is recorded as an international cap.

The link dates to the 1982 World Cup in Valladolid, when Sheikh Fahad al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah came onto the pitch to overturn an Alain Giresse goal in France’s 4-1 win. Referee M. Stupar yielded and was later banned. Platini had already been substituted, nursing a groin problem, and learned of Michel Hidalgo’s rage in the dressing room.

Ties then deepened. The sheikh attended Platini’s 1988 testimonial, and after retiring in June 1987 he toured the Middle East to promote his 10 Platini clothing line. He played a training game in Jordan against Oman, then in the United Arab Emirates, one half for each side.

On 27 November 1989, by then France manager for just over a year and aged 34, he played the opening 21 minutes of Kuwait 0-2 USSR. Wearing number 10 and even supplying the kit, he treated it as harmless fun. He says he would not have played had he known it would count.

The Soviets were on a winter tour and Kuwait were preparing the Asian Cup. Footage shows Platini still opening up a top side, and he departed to a standing ovation from 20,000. It proved his last official match.

Source: L'Équipe