Andriy Shevchenko

Cold-blooded accuracy

Greece's Michalis Kapsis (R) fights for the ball with Ukraine's Andriy Shevchenko during their World Cup 2006 qualifier at the Karaiskaki stadium in Piraeus, 08 June 2005 . AFP PHOTO / Aris Messinis

It was long thought that Andriy Shevchenko would join the sad list of truly great players denied a chance to grace a World Cup tournament, but the ruthless AC Milan marksman is now heading toward the 2006 finals with Ukraine.

Shevchenko's speed, power, close control and a clinical, cold-blooded accuracy in front of goal convinced the mighty AC Milan to pay Dynamo Kiev some 37 million dollars for him in 1999 and he has since proved to be worth every cent with a veritable flood of goals from the word go.

AC Milan's Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko shows his Golden Ball European Footballer of the Year trophy to supporters before their Italian serie A football match against Lecce at San Siro stadium in Milan 06 January 2005. AFP PHOTO/PACO SERINELLI

The Ballon d'Or (European footballer of the year award) he won in 2004 was in recognition of his contribution to the 2003 Champions League winning campaign and the 2004 Italian championship.

By that time he had scored 102 goals in 164 matches in the ultra-defensive Italian league and has since signed a deal with Milan until 2009, when he will be 33.

Even in his very first season with Milan he managed 24 goals from 32 matches, making him the first ever foreigner to top the scoring charts in Italy in his maiden campaign.

Joy and despair

Milan AC Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko jubilates during their European Champions League Final match at Old Trafford Stadium, 28 May 2003 in Manchester. AFP PHOTO PAOLO COCCO

His finest moment was converting the winning penalty in the 2003 Champions League final shoot-out against Juventus. He also grabbed the only goal as Milan won the European Super Cup with a win over Porto.

AC Milan's Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko (L) reacts after missing a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions league football final AC Milan vs Liverpool, 25 May 2005 at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul. Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties. AFP PHOTO FILIPPO MONTEFORTE

The 2004-2005 season however ended in bitter disappointment for Shevchenko and Milan as they let a 3-0 half-time lead in the Champions League final slip, allowing Liverpool to mount a stunning comeback to level at 3-3 after 90 minutes.

In the penalty shoot-out, Shevchenko seemed spooked by Liverpool keeper Jersey Dudeck's antics and his lame shot was saved, handing Liverpool the trophy.

Days later, Milan also lost out on the league title to Juventus, compounding their misery after a great season in which he was again Italy's top scorer with 24.

The Dynamo

At Dynamo his reputation as a prolific goalscorer was carved out on the European stage in the 1997/98 season with a first-half hat-trick in a stunning 4-0 win at the Camp Nou against Barcelona.

AC Milan's Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko (R) vies with Bologna's defender Stefano Rorrisi, during their italian serie A football match at San Siro stadium in Milan, 30 January 2005. AFP PHOTO / Paco SERINELLI

The following season Shevchenko scored eight goals to help the Ukrainians into the semi-finals of the competition and his outstanding performances saw him come third in the poll for the 1999 FIFA World Player of the Year award.

He had won five championships and two Ukrainian Cups with Dynamo before packing his bags to prove himself in Italy.

The World Cup is now a suitable showcase for a player of his stature.