Former Juventus star Michel Platini says France are ‘on paper’ the best team at the World Cup, but he’d ‘put a euro’ on Portugal, and explains why Canada star Jonathan David failed to impress in his first season in Turin.
France and Juventus legend Platini spoke about the World Cup and Juventus striker David during an event organised by the Vialli and Mauro Foundation in Turin.
Platini: France the strongest World Cup team
The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, and Platini seems quite happy with the new format.
“It’s right to expand it, right to give new realities a chance: I don’t know if 48 teams are too few or too many, but I know something had to be done for nations like those in Africa,” he said via Gazzetta.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reveals that Italian legend Del Piero inspired the teams’ walkout at the 2026 World Cup, and Platini is a big fan of this change.
“I find the moment of the anthems, with the teams lined up in that way, very evocative,” he said.
When asked about the favourite to win the World Cup, Platini replied: “On paper, my France team is the strongest, but I’d put a euro on Portugal.”
Canada international David is the World Cup’s top goalscorer alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Germany’s Deniz Undav, all with three goals.
David, however, failed to impress in his first year at Juventus and the Bianconeri are reportedly open to offers for the 26-year-old.
Platini, however, feels that David’s struggles in Turin were not entirely his fault.
“I can say that for someone who does what I did, a midfielder, integration can be less complicated: in midfield, you touch the ball a thousand times; in attack, it depends on the team,” Platini concluded.