Shevchenko takes Ballon d'Or

[zip95843]

http://www.uefa.com/footballcentral/news/Kind=2/newsId=268258.html
AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko has been named European Footballer of the Year, France Football magazine has announced.

Prolific form
The 28-year-old finished as top scorer in Serie A in the 2003/04 season with 24 goals as Milan won the title in convincing fashion. Shevchenko has showed no sign of slowing down in the present campaign, with three goals in five UEFA Champions League group stage matches and eleven more strikes in the Italian top flight.

Nedved successor
Shevchenko succeeds Juventus FC midfielder Pavel Nedved as the winner of the Ballon d'Or, which has organised by France Football since 1956, beating the likes of FC Barcelona forward Ronaldinho and Arsenal FC striker Thierry Henry who are in the running with Shevchenko for next week's FIFA World Player of the Year award.

'Special day'
"It is a very special day for me," said Shevchenko before leaving for Paris to collect his award. "I'm very happy and I think I have deserved this prestigious award. I want to dedicate it to my people in Ukraine, at this particular moment for my country. I feel I have played well in 2004 but I don't consider myself the best player in the world. Other people have to give their opinions on this, I can only try to play as well as I can."

Third triumph
Shevchenko's success is the seventh time a Milan player has won the coveted award, with only Juventus, on eight, boasting more titles. He becomes the third Ukrainian to win it, following Oleh Blokhin and Ihor Belanov, who took the title in 1975 and 1986 respectively while representing the Soviet Union.



PS. It's strange that they didn't mention another great player who took the award from Soviet Union - Lev Yashin. But I guess that it's policy to mention SU less as possible... :\

 

[sloter]

I was never that impressed with Shevchenko. I'm a little tired of all the strikers and offensive midfielders being the only ones to get the recognition. No striker really stood out this year and this was perhaps perfect opportunity to give it to someone who plays midfield or defense.

 

[zip95843]

I was never that impressed with Shevchenko. I'm a little tired of all the strikers and offensive midfielders being the only ones to get the recognition. No striker really stood out this year and this was perhaps perfect opportunity to give it to someone who plays midfield or defense.

I wouldn't say that. Shevchenko is a guy who can create. Having him in the team means that you have a guy who would score in the game regardless of opponent. I've seen what he has done this year - championship in Italy and Champion League. And he was the major force in AC Milan. Without him AC Milan were mediocre at best.