"I Want to Bring My Ballon d'Or Back to Ukraine"

He became the face of a nation in tears. In a highly emotional interview broadcast on March 6, 2022, with Italian public broadcaster RAI, Andriy Shevchenko spoke for the first time about the war launched by Russia against his country. A champion adored by his people, he could not hold back his tears as he pleaded for help from his second home, Italy. It was a heartfelt cry from the 2004 France Football Ballon d'Or winner, whose weary expression and dark circles betrayed the sleepless nights he had endured since the invasion began on February 24.

"The first month was the hardest," he recalls today. "The Ukrainian people were not ready for what happened. No one believed that cities would be burned and that civilians, even children, would be killed, but it all happened before our eyes." His mother and sister witnessed it firsthand, remaining in Ukraine for a time before crossing the border "when it became impossible for them to stay at home." In Ukraine, "Sheva" is a legend. And though he moved west in 1999 to become a world-class striker and global star at AC Milan, he never forgot his roots.

Born in Dvirkivshchyna, about a hundred kilometers from Kyiv, and raised in the working-class Kyiv district of Obolon, Shevchenko was shaped by the legendary Dynamo Kyiv school of Valeriy Lobanovskyi. He even spent two years in Crimea as a child to escape the radioactive cloud from Chernobyl. "Since I was a little boy, I've been a Dynamo fan. I played in a children's sports school, I went to the stadiums to watch the matches, and I closely followed two Ukrainian players who won the Ballon d'Or: Blokhin (1975) and Belanov (1986)." Shevchenko even claims a style similar to Oleh Blokhin: a complete player combining speed, power, technique, efficiency, endurance, and mental strength.

As a worthy heir, he followed in his compatriots' footsteps in 2004 while wearing the Milan jersey. It was an unforgettable year, both personally—marrying his wife Kristen and welcoming their first child, Jordan, in the autumn—and professionally. He won the Italian league title and finished as the top scorer (Capocannoniere) with 24 goals, just as he had in 2000. He also enjoyed an excellent run with the national team during the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, culminating in the "realization of a dream" with the Ballon d'Or.

Crowned During the Orange Revolution

The award propelled him into a new dimension. "The Ballon d'Or is an individual trophy that gives a very different feeling from a team trophy like the Champions League (which he won in 2003 with AC Milan). I found myself having to take on a huge responsibility—for the future, for the younger generation, to pass on my experience."

This sense of duty was amplified by the fiery political climate back home in Kyiv, 1,700 kilometers away. The results of the presidential election, which saw the pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych win, were being contested by opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who had survived a poisoning attempt and was backed by massive street protests. "The Orange Revolution was happening in my country, and I remember that right after leaving the France Football offices, I was greeted by (future) President Yushchenko (elected on December 26, 2004). It made me very happy," admits the Ukrainian prince.

By dedicating his Ballon d'Or to his people, he cemented his role as an ambassador for the young nation, which had been independent since August 1991. "Of course, at the first opportunity, I brought the trophy to the country. Today, it's in a museum in Milan; I gave it to them about five years ago. But when Ukraine finds peace again, I really want to bring it back home. I'm thinking of gathering trophies from other Ukrainian athletes and creating a large exhibition, open to all sports fans."

Making his nation's name shine has been a constant obsession. This was evident when he took the reins of the national team in 2016. "I felt an enormous responsibility. It took us two years to rebuild the team, but we didn't deviate from our principles. Young players became leaders (Malinovskyi, Zinchenko, Yaremchuk, Tsygankov, Matviyenko...)." His efforts led the team to the knockout stage of a European Championship for the first time in 2021, before they were eliminated by England in the quarter-finals (0-4).

"The first issue is to tell the truth about what is happening in Ukraine. The second is to raise funds."

"When the war broke out, I thought about how I could be useful," he explained. "I realized I had to focus on two issues. The first is to tell the truth about what is happening in Ukraine. The second is to raise funds. To help refugees, to send humanitarian aid, to work with large foundations, to connect people."

An Ambassador for Aid

In early May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched an international fundraising platform called UNITED24. This initiative ensures the efficient and transparent distribution of donations, with funds allocated to medical aid, reconstruction, and the country's defense. Who better than Shevchenko to become its first ambassador?

"I immediately accepted," stated the 45-year-old, who was soon joined by other prominent figures like tennis player Elina Svitolina and American pop-rock band Imagine Dragons.

"It's important to remember that the war is not over yet," "Sheva" reminded everyone. "Yes, it has moved away from Kyiv, but millions of Ukrainians are suffering every day. I visited the destroyed football school in Irpin (a suburb of Kyiv, near Bucha, where massacres were committed). It's impossible for me to look at this reality without crying because little children still come to play in a place where nothing is left but the walls."

Since its launch, UNITED24 has raised approximately 175 million euros from 110 countries. "The French are among the top five donor countries," Shevchenko noted. "And I would be very grateful if, after reading this, you would help my country, whether as an individual or a large company. Every contribution is important, whether it's ten euros or a million."

The Ukrainian icon vows to continue speaking out for his country until the bloodshed ends. Only then will he consider putting football back at the center of his life. "Today, my priorities have changed because I have to help my country. But I know that one day, I will certainly return to the thing I love most."