Soccer Aid 2022: Usain Bolt presents Andriy Shevchenko with Ukraine armband

By
published

Legendary athlete Usain Bolt presented Andriy Shevchenko with a Ukraine armband in a touching moment at Soccer Aid

Andriy Shevchenko poses next to the Ukraine flag at an exhibition match in Milan.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Legendary sprinter Usain Bolt presented former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko with a Ukraine armband in a touching moment ahead of kick-off at Soccer Aid 2022.

Shevchenko, representing the Soccer Aid world XI against an England line-up at the London Stadium, was handed the captain's armband by skipper Bolt ahead of the match.

Ukraine's greatest-ever player and former coach looked emotional as he received the armband, in the colours of his nation's flag.

Alongside him, though, team-mate Cafu seemed oblivious as he made faces at the camera in what was supposed to be a moment of reflection before the game in east London.

Shevchenko, who scored 48 goals in 111 appearances for Ukraine, recently gave his backing to a fundraising platform set up by president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to help with the war effort following Russia's invasion in February.

The 45-year-old, who also had two successful spells at Dynamo Kyiv, has called for donations to help with defence, medical aid and infrastructure as the war continues.

Ben Hayward
Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.