PLATINI'S VILLA BURGLED: THIEVES ENCOUNTER FOOTBALL LEGEND, DOZENS OF TROPHIES STOLEN

A frightening ordeal for football legend Michel Platini. The villa of the former Juventus and French national team number 10, located in Cassis (Bouches-du-Rhône), southern France, was ransacked by a group of robbers who made off with over 20 trophies and medals.

The news was initially reported by RTL radio before being confirmed by sources close to the investigation, cited by Agence France-Presse. According to French newspapers, the former French international (72 caps between 1976 and 1987) heard noises early this morning in his garden in Cassis. The 70-year-old former UEFA president then found himself confronting a hooded man dressed in black, who immediately fled with several sports accolades, mainly trophies, cups, and medals.

The investigation has been entrusted to the Aubagne research brigade. A three-time Ballon d'Or winner (1983, 1984, 1985), 'Platoche' – as he's known in France – also made history by winning the European Cup with Juventus in 1985. With the French national team, where he also served as coach, Platini was a European champion in 1984 and reached the World Cup semifinals twice (1982 and 1986).