Igor Belanov, the 1986 Ballon d'Or winner, has joined Ukraine's armed forces in an effort to aid his country following Russia's invasion.
Belanov won eight titles with Dynamo Kiev and also spent time in the 1980s and 1990s with German clubs Borussia Moenchengladbach and Eintracht Braunschweig.
But now, the 61-year-old, who, along with Oleh Blokhin (1975), is one of three Ukrainians to win the Ballon d'Or, has followed in the footsteps of Oleksandr Usyk to become the country's latest sporting icon to take up arms.
After visiting Belanov's hometown of Odessa on Wednesday, the head of the Ukraine Football Association, Andriy Pavelko, met with him.
The two got together to talk to a lot of military units and dole out supplies and gifts.
Meanwhile, Belanov visited a hospital in the war-torn city to show off his 1986 Ballon d'Or to some of the injured servicemen receiving treatment there.
Belanov then uploaded a series of photos on Facebook showing himself clutching a rifle and in shots with other soldiers: 'Amazing bravery and an unquenchable battling spirit!
'Our Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers are all of these things and more. We're here for you!
Peace to Ukraine, and glory to everyone who stands up to the occupiers who came openly to destroy our country and our brave people!
'I'm hoping for a quick victory!' Ukraine, we are proud of you!'
Belanov began his professional career with SKA Odessa and Chornomorets Odessa, both of which he founded in his hometown.
After making his debut in 1985, Belanov would go on to play 33 times for the Soviet Union, scoring eight goals in a five-year span.
After helping Dynamo Kiev win the European Cup Winners' Cup with a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the final, he was a surprise winner of the Ballon d'Or the following year.
In the meantime, he made appearances for the Soviet Union at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he scored four goals and added six assists, including a hat-trick in a loss to Belgium in the last 16. He was also a member of the team that reached the Euro final two years later, only to lose to Holland in a game in which Belanov's penalty was saved. He rose to notoriety after becoming the majority stakeholder of Swiss team FC Wil, but left soon after, after scoring 132 goals in 462 matches during his professional club and international career. In 2018, he became a member of the Ukraine Football Association's board of strategic development. He was also dubbed a "legend" during the Victory of Football Awards in 2012.
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