Ukraine icon Andriy Shevchenko has revealed the most significant goal of his playing career, going back twenty years when Milan won their sixth European cup. The 2003 UEFA Champions League went the Rossoneri’s way after Shevchenko netted the final penalty of the game past Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon in the shootouts following a goalless scoreline in normal time.
Speaking at the Sports Festival in Trento, the 2004 Ballon d’Or winner rolled back the years and commented on his personal accolade.
“Winning the Ballon d’Or was my dream ever since I was in the youth sector of Dynamo Kiev. The right moment came during a great personal period with both Milan and the Ukrainian national team and it was wonderful, an incredible joy. The news of the Ballon d’Or victory was given to me by a journalist I had known for some time. I also received compliments from Ukraine to whom I dedicated this trophy. To my country, to my people who have always been close to me.” (via Tuttomercatoweb)
Shevchenko fondly remembers his UCL trophy-winning strike at Old Trafford.
“Sometimes it’s also a question of destiny: I remember when Ariedo Braida came to me wearing the Milan shirt, he told me that with this shirt I would win the Ballon d’Or. I loved Milan straight away. For me Milan is always a great Milan. The most important goal for me is the penalty in Manchester in the Champions League final against Juventus because a dream came true. The dream of winning that trophy and entering Milan’s history. And to enter the history of this club you have to win the Champions League. It’s a special club, and you understand it from the first moment you arrive.”
He then spoke in detail about his most notable adversaries during his time in Serie A.
Totti, for example: a fantastic player whose loyalty towards Roma I admired. I love Bobo Vieri, but let’s forget about Bobo TV (laughs). When he was at Inter, I didn’t like him much, but when he came to Milan, I liked him a lot. Batistuta was a powerful and elegant striker, while Del Piero was a genius. I met him on the pitch already in my youth days, he was always someone of great quality. An Inter player who gave me a hard time is Ivan Cordoba. But he is a sweet, very sweet guy. I remember him hitting me, but afterwards he immediately apologized.”
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