http://sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/12/12/sfnshe12.xml&sSheet=/sport/2004/12/12/ixfooty.html
Andriy Shevchenko will fulfil a lifelong ambition when he is confirmed as winner of the prestigious Ballon D'Or tomorrow. Shevchenko has pipped Ronaldinho, Deco and Thierry Henry to the prize, which is voted for by journalists from 52 European countries.
"The award would be the supreme recognition for what I have accomplished since I first starting kicking a ball," said the Ukrainian, whose 24 goals last season helped AC Milan secure their first Serie A title in five years.
"As I've never played in a World Cup or European Championship, I don't enjoy such a favourable stage as other players," added the 28-year-old, scorer of the winning penalty in the 2003 Champions League final shoot-out against Juventus. "I always dreamed of winning the Ballon D'Or, but with Milan or with Ukraine the results were never spectacular enough. For a long time I was seen as a player from the east who didn't have the opportunity to shine in an international tournament, but since joining Milan in 1999 I have built myself a new personality."
Shevchenko, who has finished third in the voting twice before - in 1999 (behind Rivaldo and David Beckham) and 2000 (behind Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane) - claimed his mental strength is what separates him from his rivals. When he was rejected by a specialist sports school after messing up his dribbling test aged nine, he missed school for 10 straight days so he could practise. That same year, his family were forced to move to Maceivka near the Black Sea after the Chernobyl disaster.
"It is all in my head, nothing can affect me," he said. "I have never lost my grip. Unlike other footballers from Ukraine, I am never discouraged if I am hurt by an injury or go through a spell without a goal. In my head I'm always ready to go further."
His next challenge could be against English opposition in the Champions League's first knockout round next February. Friday's draw could see Liverpool or Manchester United line up against Milan, who finished ahead of Barcelona in their group.
"We are confident whoever we play," he warned. "The team is playing well at the moment and we are not afraid of anyone." It has been a great autumn for Shevchenko. He recently celebrated scoring his 100th goal in Serie A and his American wife Kristen gave birth to their first child, a son named Jordan. "I couldn't imagine calling him Vladimir," the proud father explained. "I want him to be a citizen of the world,"
The Ballon D'Or caps what Shevchenko has called the best year of his life. "The winner leaves his signature in international football. He's not just No 1 for one year, because his name goes down in history. This kind of reward should go to a player who has marked his time.
"I have achieved a lot in the last five years, including the Champions League and the Italian league and I am one of the best goalscorers in the history of the club."
Too bad for ronaldinho and Henry!
Andriy Shevchenko will fulfil a lifelong ambition when he is confirmed as winner of the prestigious Ballon D'Or tomorrow. Shevchenko has pipped Ronaldinho, Deco and Thierry Henry to the prize, which is voted for by journalists from 52 European countries.
"The award would be the supreme recognition for what I have accomplished since I first starting kicking a ball," said the Ukrainian, whose 24 goals last season helped AC Milan secure their first Serie A title in five years.
"As I've never played in a World Cup or European Championship, I don't enjoy such a favourable stage as other players," added the 28-year-old, scorer of the winning penalty in the 2003 Champions League final shoot-out against Juventus. "I always dreamed of winning the Ballon D'Or, but with Milan or with Ukraine the results were never spectacular enough. For a long time I was seen as a player from the east who didn't have the opportunity to shine in an international tournament, but since joining Milan in 1999 I have built myself a new personality."
Shevchenko, who has finished third in the voting twice before - in 1999 (behind Rivaldo and David Beckham) and 2000 (behind Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane) - claimed his mental strength is what separates him from his rivals. When he was rejected by a specialist sports school after messing up his dribbling test aged nine, he missed school for 10 straight days so he could practise. That same year, his family were forced to move to Maceivka near the Black Sea after the Chernobyl disaster.
"It is all in my head, nothing can affect me," he said. "I have never lost my grip. Unlike other footballers from Ukraine, I am never discouraged if I am hurt by an injury or go through a spell without a goal. In my head I'm always ready to go further."
His next challenge could be against English opposition in the Champions League's first knockout round next February. Friday's draw could see Liverpool or Manchester United line up against Milan, who finished ahead of Barcelona in their group.
"We are confident whoever we play," he warned. "The team is playing well at the moment and we are not afraid of anyone." It has been a great autumn for Shevchenko. He recently celebrated scoring his 100th goal in Serie A and his American wife Kristen gave birth to their first child, a son named Jordan. "I couldn't imagine calling him Vladimir," the proud father explained. "I want him to be a citizen of the world,"
The Ballon D'Or caps what Shevchenko has called the best year of his life. "The winner leaves his signature in international football. He's not just No 1 for one year, because his name goes down in history. This kind of reward should go to a player who has marked his time.
"I have achieved a lot in the last five years, including the Champions League and the Italian league and I am one of the best goalscorers in the history of the club."
Too bad for ronaldinho and Henry!
