Shoot! would like to wish former Ivory Coast international striker Didier Drogba many happy returns as he celebrates his 40th birthday this evening.

Drogba, who joined Chelsea back in July 2004 from Marseille for a then club record £24m, went on to score a remarkable 164 goals in 381 appearances in all competitions for The Blues during two trophy-filled spells at Stamford Bridge.

Becoming the most expensive Ivorian in footballing history, Drogba won 14 honours with the Premier League club – including the UEFA Champions League, four Premier League titles and four FA Cups.

He left Chelsea, for a second time, back in the summer of 2015, joining Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact, where he found the back of the net an impressive 23 times in 41 games.

But in April 2017, Drogba moved on once more, and became the very first player-owner in football history, joining United Soccer League outfit Phoenix Rising FC.

He has since netted nine times in just 14 appearances, and has announced he intends to retire from the beautiful game in November 2018, after his second season with Phoenix Rising.

So, to celebrate the striker’s latest milestone, Shoot! is paying tribute to the Chelsea great by putting together five of Drogba’s most defining moments of his Blues Career in Pictures. Enjoy!

Third Time Lucky

It took Drogba just three games to record his first goal for Chelsea, during The Blues’ 2-0 Premier League victory at Crystal Palace in August 2004, after opening the scoring in the 28th minute with a fine header.

First of many for the Ivorian!

FA Cup Folklore

Chelsea’s prolific centre forward scored the only goal of the 2007 FA Cup final against Manchester United.

Drogba poked home the winner in the 116th minute in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium, completing a cup double for The Blues, after defeating Arsenal in the League Cup final that season too.

Europe Euphoria

Chelsea Football Club has won the UEFA Champions League once in their history, and they owe much of that honour to the legendary Drogba.

The forward’s powerful header in the 88th minute salvaged extra-time for The Blues inside the Allianz Arena against FC Bayern Munich in the 2012 final, after Thomas Muller’s opener just five minutes earlier.

Tied at 1-1 after extra-time, the Champions League crown would be decided on penalties, and after Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech saved spot-kicks from Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Drogba stepped up, sent shot stopper Manuel Neuer the wrong way and scored the winning penalty. Cue pandemonium!

Back to the Bridge

Drogba re-signed for Chelsea in July 2014, completing a free transfer back to Stamford Bridge and putting pen to paper on a one-year contract.

He initially left the club in June 2012, to join Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua, before moving onto Galatasaray in January 2013.

The striker scored seven goals in 40 appearances in all competitions for The Blues during the 2014-15 campaign upon his return, helping Chelsea defeat Tottenham Hotspur to win the League Cup, and finish eight points ahead of Manchester City to lift his fourth and final Premier League title with the club.

Final farewell

After two spells at Stamford Bridge, including 14 honours, 381 games, 164 goals and 86 assists, Drogba departed Chelsea once again in May 2015.

The Ivorian was chaired off by his team-mates during The Blues’ 3-1 Premier League win against Sunderland, after suffering injury, having started the fixture as Chelsea captain.

He joined Montreal Impact a couple of months later.