Andriy Shevchenko turns 50: A legendary career
Ballon d'Or winner and UAF President Andriy Shevchenko celebrates his 50th birthday today.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Original: Anastasiya Fedorenko Derivative work: Danyele
Today, September 29, Andriy Shevchenko, the legendary striker, Ballon d'Or winner, and current President of the Ukrainian Association of Football, celebrates his 50th birthday. He was born in 1976 in Yahotyn, Kyiv region.
Shevchenko reached the peak of his playing career with AC Milan, where he won the Champions League in 2003 and claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2004. Beyond his time in Italy, he also featured prominently for Dynamo Kyiv and Chelsea.
As a national team player, he earned 111 caps and scored 48 goals, remaining the all-time top scorer for Ukraine. His leadership was instrumental in the team's historic run to the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup.
After retiring from professional football, Shevchenko transitioned into management. He coached the Ukrainian national team from 2016 to 2021, leading them to Euro 2020 where they reached the quarter-finals.
Since 2024, Shevchenko has been serving as the President of the Ukrainian Association of Football, focusing on the administrative development of the sport in his home country.