Andriy Shevchenko

Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko (Ukrainian: Андрі́й Микола́йович Шевче́нко, pronounced [ɑndˈrij mɪkoˈlɑjovɪt͡ʃ ʃɛwˈt͡ʃɛnko]; born 29 September 1976) is a former Ukrainian footballer who played for Dynamo Kyiv, Milan, Chelsea, and the Ukrainian national team. Shevchenko is ranked as the fifth 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 second-best scorer of the Derby della Madonnina (derby between Milan and their local rivals Internazionale) with 14 goals. In addition, he is the all-time top scorer 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. He is also a UEFA Champions League runner-up in 2005 and 2008.

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. Even though mostly he was a striker, upon his return to Kiev he was used as a left winger.

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.

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