Fetisov, one of the great Soviet Union players of the 1980s, has been assigned the position after previously being appointed the UNEP Patron of the Polar Regions.

One of the best defenders in ice hockey history, he has since worked at preserving the earth's ecosystems, helping to establish the marine protected area in the Ross Sea in Antarctica and orchestrating a mass beach cleanup in the Russian Arctic.

He has also promoted the inclusion of green financing as a priority theme for the Arctic Council for 2021 to 2023.

UNEP's Europe office director Bruno Pozzi said: "Russia's role in protecting the people and biodiversity of our planet is crucial.

"We have been proud to work on this with Viacheslav Fetisov, a true champion of the rink and of the environment, and we look forward to expanding the scope of our collaboration in his new role as National Goodwill Ambassador."

Fetisov, who was one of the first Soviet players to make the move to the National Hockey League in the United States, will continue to support UNEP's work in Russia as part of his role.

He will also look to build public interest on environmental matters and start working on sustainability and green recovery after the pandemic.

Fetisov has two Olympic gold medals and one Olympic silver medal to his name and medalled in every Ice Hockey World Championship in the 1980s, winning a career total of seven golds, one silver and three bronze medals.

He has also in the past served as the Minister for Sport in the Russian Government from 2002 to 2008.