Andriy Shevchenko has won almost every major honour in soccer. Yet there’s still one major gap in his resume – playing in the World Cup.
Milan’s Ukrainian striker received the Golden Ball award on Monday as Europe’s best player, edging out Barcelona stars Deco and Ronaldinho.
The prestigious trophy is the latest in Shevchenko’s glittering array of titles since his early years with Dynamo Kiev in his Ukraine homeland.
Five league titles with Dynamo, three Ukraine Cups and a top scorer award in 1999 earned him a 20.7 million euros move to Milan. His 80 goals in 145 matches for Dynamo had also attracted the attention of Real Madrid and Manchester United.
At the Italian powerhouse, “Sheva” has won the Italian title, the Champions League, European Super Cup and Italian Cup.
In addition, he has twice clinched the “Capocannonieri” award as Serie A’s top scorer with 24 goals in 2000 and 2004.
But the 28-year-old Shevchenko hasn’t yet showcased his talents on the sport’s biggest stage. His main ambition now is to lead Ukraine to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
“To take part in the next World Cup with Ukraine would confirm all the good things I have shown,” Shevchenko said in Tuesday’s edition of France Football.
The prospects look good.
In November, Shevchenko scored twice in a 3-0 win at Turkey, pushing Ukraine to the top of its World Cup qualifying group with 11 points in five matches. That took him to 26 goals in 57 internationals.
Ukraine missed out in playoffs for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and Euro 2000 championship. Ukraine, which resumes World Cup qualifying on 9 February at Albania, is the favourite to win the group ahead of Denmark and Turkey.
Shevchenko first attracted international attention in 1997 when his stunning hat-trick helped Dynamo to a 4-0 win at Barcelona.
In only his fifth league match for Milan, he scored a hat-trick against Lazio, then followed with another three-goal display two weeks later at Perugia.
Shevchenko finished the 1999-2000 season with 24 goals. Only six foreign players scored more in their first season in Italy. He scored 24 again the next season.
Last month, Shevchenko reached the 100-goal mark in Serie A in his sixth season. Only five players have ever done it quicker: Gunnar Nordahl and Istvan Nyers (four seasons) and Omar Sivori, Jose Altafini, John Hansen (five seasons).
In all competitions, Shevchenko has scored 136 goals in 212 matches for Milan.
“I have matured and learned a lot alongside the champions who play in Italy,” Shevchenko said. “I am more efficient in front of goal.”