Andriy Shevchenko

Andriy Shevchenko

Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko (Ukrainian: Андрі́й Микола́йович Шевче́нко, ; born 29 September 1976) is a Ukrainian politician and former footballer. He is the third-highest goalscorer in Champions League history with 58 goals as of 10 March 2011, behind Filippo Inzaghi (70) and Raúl (77). Shevchenko is ranked as the third top goalscorer in all European competitions with 67 goals. With a tally of 175 goals scored for Milan, Shevchenko is the second most prolific player in the history of the club, and is also the all-time top scorer of the Derby della Madonnina (derby between Milan and their local rivals Internazionale) with 14 goals, as well as for the Ukrainian national team with 48 goals.

Shevchenko's career has been highlighted by many awards, the most prestigious of which was the Ballon d'Or in 2004 (becoming the third Ukrainian, after Oleh Blokhin and Ihor Belanov, to receive it). He won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 with Milan, and he has also won various league and cup titles in Ukraine, Italy, and England.

In his illustrious international career, the striker led Ukraine as captain to the quarter-finals in their first ever FIFA World Cup appearance in 2006. He is capable of playing centre-forward or attacking from the left wing and is effective with set-pieces and penalties.

On 28 July 2012, Shevchenko announced that he was quitting football for politics. He was standing for election to the Ukrainian Parliament in the October 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election. But his party failed to win parliamentary representation.