Drogba To Be Honoured With UEFA President’s Award

The award recognises a football personality who is deemed to have advanced the game’s development and success.

Drogba has been involved in charity since retiring from football and recently failed in a bid to become president of the Ivorian Football Federation.

The 42-year-old was the hero in the 2012 Champions League final, scoring a late equaliser and dispatching the decisive penalty kick in Chelsea’s triumph over Bayern Munich.

He won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and scored 164 goals in 381 appearances in two spells with Chelsea.

"Didier is a hero to millions of football fans for his achievements throughout his glittering playing career," said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who will be presenting the award.

"He is a leader - a pioneer. I will remember him as a player for his skill, strength and intelligence, but above all for his insatiable appetite to succeed - a trait which is just as present in his desire to help others off the field of play.

"The UEFA Champions League has become the greatest club competition in the world, partly due to our clubs being able to attract the best players from around the world.

"We have been lucky to have seen the likes of George Weah, Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba play at the very highest level. They in turn, have blazed a trail for African footballers and have given inspiration to a whole new generation to look to follow in their footsteps."

Some previous winners of the award include Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Paolo Maldini and Johan Cruyff.