In the early 2000s, no striker in Serie A was more dangerous than Andriy Shevchenko. At AC Milan he scored as if it cost him nothing, and in 2004 the Ballon d'Or voters named him the best player in the world, ahead of Deco and Ronaldinho.
The penalty against Juventus
The moment that made him came the year before. The 2003 Champions League Final against Juventus went to a shootout, and Shevchenko took the deciding kick. He scored, ice cold, and Milan had the trophy.
The numbers from his career:
- 175 goals for AC Milan in all competitions, making him the club's second-highest scorer of all time
- A Serie A title with Milan, and more than one season as the league's top scorer
- 111 caps and 48 goals for Ukraine, often carrying his country on the international stage
At his peak he was the most lethal striker in the world. He remains the pride of Ukraine and one of the best European forwards of the 2000s.
Tomorrow: number 21.
