Nobody expected the Soviet Union to conquer Europe in 1960. France were spearheaded by the acutely accordant tandem of Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine. Spain’s side comprised generational magnates Alfredo Di Stefano, Francisco Gento and Luis Suarez. An emerging Portugal and a stylistically unfathomable Yugoslavia also had their credentials.

Yet nine months before Yuri Gagarin became the first man to travel into space, rocketing from little-known astronaut into worldwide phenomenon in the process, his compatriots became the maiden UEFA European Championship winners thanks to another pioneer whose reputation was dwarfed by his exceptional ability. His name was Lev Yashin. It is one that would subsequently gain global immortality.

Another Soviet-born goalkeeper is now striving to help his side rule the continent. His name is Igor Akinfeev, a 23-year-old blessed with flash reflexes. He has been CSKA Moscow’s first choice between the sticks since the age of 17, became Russia’s youngest-ever international just 20 days past his 18th birthday, and performed indispensable roles in his club’s 2004/05 UEFA Cup triumph and his country’s third-placed finish at UEFA EURO 2008.

Akinfeev is a great goalkeeper. He is athletic, powerful and distributes the ball well.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

The consensus among those who witness Akinfeev perform on a regular basis is that he is, alongside Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas, Petr Cech and Julio Cesar, among the world’s elite goalkeepers. His employers certainly think so, as the £25m asking fee they recently imprinted on his price tag testifies.

Outside the vast borders of Russia, however, Akinfeev began the 2009/10 campaign as a vastly underrated product. It was, largely, a consequence of his rare loyalty: the No35 has, despite incessant interest from prestigious suitors, remained faithful to the capital club.

Yet the further CSKA have progressed in this season’s UEFA Champions League, the more recognition he has received. The Army team were not expected to progress from a pool that also featured Manchester United, Wolfsburg and Besiktas, and halfway through their Group B campaign, and with a trip to the English champions impending, they found themselves out of the top two positions. However, thanks largely to a heroic performance from Akinfeev, they improbably drew 3-3 at Old Trafford.

"Akinfeev is a great goalkeeper,” said Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson afterwards. "I told you to watch out for him and he was fantastic as I expected. He is athletic, powerful and distributes the ball well."

Another formidable showing from Akinfeev was then central to a 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg, before CSKA edged victory in Istanbul to make the last 16. Leonid Slutsky’s team were, thereafter, handed an encouraging tie with Sevilla. "It could have been a lot worse,” said Akinfeev. “We could have got Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona or Real."

Still, the Russians will begin tomorrow’s first leg as the significant underdogs to progress. They finished a modest fifth in the Russian Premier League, which concluded on 29 November, and have not played a competitive game since beating Besiktas nine days later. Moreover, they lost their latest friendly 3-0 to Ukraine’s Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, and have star outfield player Alan Dzagoev struggling for fitness.

When (Gianluigi) Buffon retires, the best goalkeeper in the world will be Igor Akinfeev.
Andrei Arshavin

Meanwhile, Sevilla have, since the turn of the year, eliminated Barcelona, Deportivo and Getafe to reach the Copa del Rey final, and won four of their previous five La Liga games to close to within four points of third-placed Valencia. And although Luis Fabiano will sit out of the game at the Luzhniki stadium, the likes of Jesus Navas, Frederic Kanoute and Alvaro Negredo mean Akinfeev could be in for another eventful night on the European stage.

“We have played a number of friendlies but there is no substitute for competitive matches,” said CSKA coach Slutsky. “Sevilla are a great side. They’re very solid at the back but their biggest strength is their attack, which is very strong.”

It is a frontline that will have to find a way past the man en route to becoming his positional peer, according to Andrei Arshavin: “When (Gianluigi) Buffon retires, the best goalkeeper in the world will be Igor Akinfeev.”

If Akinfeev can keep CSKA’s Champions League dream alive a little longer, non-Russians might just starting holding him in the same esteem.