While Shevchenko ultimately flopped in the Premier League with Chelsea, he is considered a legend in Italy.

The retired Ukrainian striker-turned-politician turns 39 today and is still considered one of the best foreign forwards to have donned an AC Milan shirt.

Sheva joined the Rossoneri in 1999 from Dynamo Kiev and soon became an untouchable part of the club.

He was quick, dextrous and twofooted with a knack of running straight through defences. In 2003 he won the Champions League during an unforgettable Italian final against Juventus: scoring the winning penalty.

The following year he was one of the protagonists winning the Serie A title and he earned the prestigious Ballon d’Or for his efforts that season. In his illustrious international career, the striker led Ukraine as captain to the quarter-finals in their first ever World Cup appearance in 2006.

1966: Ken Norton Jr, retired NFL linebacker and the first player to win a Super Bowl in three consecutive years (49).

1984: Per Mertesacker, German defender for Arsenal, a club he has won the FA Cup twice with (31).

1985: Dani Pedrosa, MotoGP racer with Repsol Honda Team and the youngest World Champion in 250cc Grands Prix (30).