Andriy Shevchenko marks 50th birthday and discusses Ukrainian football mission

Andriy Shevchenko, the former AC Milan striker and 2004 Ballon d'Or winner, is marking his 50th birthday while serving as the president of the Ukrainian football federation. In recent reflections, he highlighted the immense challenges of maintaining football in Ukraine during the ongoing war, noting that normal life has ceased and the situation has worsened for younger generations who must deal with online schooling and underground shelters.

Shevchenko explained that organizing matches has become increasingly difficult and expensive, as most games must be played away from home. The federation relies heavily on funding from UEFA and FIFA to sustain operations. Despite these hurdles, he emphasized the importance of sport as a source of normalcy and relief. He specifically noted the success of the ‘School League’ project, which has grown from 12,000 to 50,000 participants over three years.

Reflecting on his professional career, Shevchenko recalled his time at Dynamo Kyiv, Chelsea, and his highly successful tenure at AC Milan, where he won the Champions League and the Scudetto. He expressed continued affection for Milan, stating he will always remain a supporter of the club.