"Shevchenko, Your Choice Has Left Your People Crying." That banner, displayed during a Champions League game between AC Milan and Ukraine side Shaktar Donetsk last month, was directed at AC Milan and Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko, who was last night confirmed as France Football's 2004 European Player of the Year.
In a poll of European soccer journalists from 52 countries, the 28-year-old was rewarded for his outstanding scoring record for Milan since he joined the Italian side from Dynamo Kiev in 1999.
Shevchenko has scored 102 goals in Serie A over the last six seasons and helped Milan win the Champions League in 2003 and the Italian title in 2004.
Portuguese forward Deco and Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho, both of Barcelona, were second and third respectively. Shevchenko received 175 votes, Deco 139 and Ronaldinho 133.
Shevchenko is one of three players in line for FIFA's World Player of the Year award. The others are Ronaldinho and French striker Thierry Henry of Arsenal who came fourth in the European poll with 80 votes.
At the very moment Ukraine is plunged into a political crisis, football offers its most prestigious individual award to Ukraine's most famous footballing son.
As the banner at the Milan v Shaktar game confirmed, the ongoing leadership crisis involving pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and the pro-EU opposition leader, Viktor Yushchenko, has spilled over onto Shevchenko. Another banner at the same game declared: "Yushchenko Is Our President." (The previous weekend's elections had been won by the Yanukovych but that result was declared invalid by the Ukraine Supreme Court).
Some Ukrainians feel Shevchenko has allowed himself to be too easily identified with the old, pro-Russian regime in Ukraine. Even if not without foundation, the criticism fails to allow for the extent to which Shevchenko has been caught in the political crossfire.
His huge success is such that outgoing Ukraine President Leonid Kuchma awarded him a Ukraine Medal of Honour. His winning good looks are such that fashion designer Giorgio Armani two years ago identified in him the ideal partner for a major business expansion in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
Politicians, shakers and makers find it hard to keep their hands off him. AC Milan is owned by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. When, in November 2002, he scored in a Champions League win over Real Madrid at the San Siro, prime minister (and team boss) Berlusconi celebrated the feat by summoning Shevchenko for a gala banquet the following evening in honour of Kuchma, who was visiting Italy.
Shevchenko denies any political affiliations in his native land, telling Gazzetta Dello Sport last month: "I'm a footballer and I don't want to be involved in this sort of thing (Ukraine political debate), especially when I live here in Italy, when I can't really know what is going on in my country."
One might point out there is no shortage of hard information regarding the bitterly disputed presidential election. Furthermore, Sheva is better informed about his homeland than he might admit, as he spends half his day on the phone talking to his parents who, having moved to Milan, recently returned to Kiev to look after Sheva's sick grandfather.
Shevchenko is entitled to his apolitical line, especially when he adds: "I can only say I'm worried about what is happening in Ukraine because it may well lead to major problems for lots of people. I play for my country and I'm proud of those little things I have done that have promoted the name of Ukraine in Europe."
In that context, Shevchenko's award is certain to further boost his country. Even more crucial could be Sheva's attempts to finally lead the Ukraine to the finals of a major competition.
Following a 3-0 World Cup qualifier win away to Turkey last month, Ukraine are currently riding high in Group Two on 11 points (three wins, two draws), five points clear of second-placed Denmark. Having lost out in the play-offs for France '98, Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup (to Croatia, Slovenia and Germany, respectively), Ukraine stand on the brink of a qualification.
The national team relies heavily on Sheva's goalscoring abilities. If he were to pull off a qualification for Germany 2006, then he would probably silence even his critics back home.
