Ballon d'Or winner Belanov joins Ukraine's armed forces as he helps his country

Igor Belanov, the former striker who won the 1986 Ballon d'Or, has joined Ukraine's armed forces in a bid to help his country following Russia's invasion.

Belanov won eight titles at Dynamo Kiev and also played for German sides Borussia Moenchengladbach and Eintracht Braunschweig in the 1980s and 1990s.

But now the 61-year-old - who is one of three Ukrainians along with Oleh Blokhin (1975) to win the Ballon d'Or - has followed the likes of Oleksandr Usyk to become the latest sporting icon from the country to take up arms.

The ex-forward also met up with the president of the Ukraine FA, Andriy Pavelko, after the latter visited Belanov's hometown of Odessa on Wednesday.

The pair met to hold talks with a number of military groups, as well as to hand out aid and gifts.

Meanwhile, Belanov also brought his 1986 Ballon d'Or to a hospital in the war-torn city to show it off to some of the injured servicemen receiving treatment there.

Belanov then posted a series of images of him holding a gun and in photos with other soldiers before posting on Facebook: 'Amazing courage and inexhaustible fighting spirit!

'All this and much more characterizes our soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are with you!

'Peace to Ukraine, and Glory to everyone who confronts the occupiers who boldly came to destroy our Land and our Free, Heroic People!

'Believing in our quick victory! Glory to Ukraine!'

Born in Odessa, Belanov started his career professionally in his hometown with SKA Odessa and Chornomorets Odessa.

Belanov would eventually go on to represent the Soviet Union 33 times, scoring eight goals over a five-year period after making his debut in 1985.

A year later, he was a surprise winner of the Ballon d'Or after helping Dynamo Kiev win the European Cup Winners' Cup following a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the final.

Those appearances for the Soviet Union meanwhile included matches at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he scored four goals and recorded six assists, including a hat-trick in a losing cause against Belgium in the last 16.

He was also part of the side that reached the final of the Euros two years later, only for Holland to beat them in the final in a game which saw Belanov have a penalty saved.

After retiring following 132 goals in 462 matches across his professional club and international career, He returned to prominence when he became the majority shareholder at Swiss club FC Wil but left shortly after.

In 2018 joined the board of strategic development at the Ukraine FA. He was also named one of the 'legends of Ukrainian football' at the Victory of Football awards in 2011.