Eldor Shomurodov

Eldor Shomurodov
Eldor Azamat oʻgʻli Shomurodov (born 29 June 1995) is an Uzbek professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Cagliari, on loan from Roma. He also captains the Uzbekistan national team.
He played in his homeland for Mash'al Mubarek and Bunyodkor before spending three years with Rostov in the Russian Premier League. In 2020, he moved to Genoa in Serie A for €8 million and a year later Roma for €17.5 million. After helping the under-20 team to the quarter-finals of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he made his full international debut later that year and represented the country at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Club career
Early career
Born in Jarqoʻrgʻon, Shomurodov played for Mash'al Mubarek and Bunyodkor. On 15 July 2017, he moved to Russian Premier League club Rostov. His most prolific season was his last, with 11 goals in 2019–20.
Genoa
On 1 October 2020, Shomurodov completed an €8 million move to Serie A club Genoa. He became the second Uzbek to play in Serie A, after Ilyos Zeytulayev, whose teams also included Genoa. He made his debut on 19 October in a goalless draw at Hellas Verona, being substituted for Gianluca Scamacca after 63 minutes; his first goal on 30 November was consolation in a 2–1 home loss to Parma. He scored eight times in his one season at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, including two in a 4–3 home loss to Atalanta on 15 May 2021.
Roma
On 2 August 2021, Roma announced the acquisition of Shomurodov on a five-year contract for €17.5 million plus bonuses. He debuted 17 days later in José Mourinho's first game as manager, away to Trabzonspor in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs. He started the game and scored the decisive goal of a 2–1 win. Mainly a substitute in his first season, he scored three league goals, starting with an equaliser in a 3–2 loss at Venezia on 7 November. He went on to become the first-ever Uzbek football player to win a major UEFA competition, as his club triumphed in the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League Final, for which he was a last-minute substitute.
On 30 January 2023, Spezia signed Shomurodov on loan until the end of the season.
On 27 July 2023, recently-promoted to Serie A side Cagliari announced the signing of Shomurodov from Roma on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent.
International career
Youth
Shomurodov played for the Uzbekistan U19 in the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship and qualified to 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played in all five matches of U-20 team at the 2015 U-20 World Cup and scored two goals for the quarter-finalists.
Shomurodov and two teammates were listed as nominees for best young players of Asia by AFC in 2015.
Senior
Shomurodov was called to senior national team to play on 3 September 2015 in 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Yemen. He made his official debut in that match. On 8 October 2015, he scored his first goal for the national team in a World Cup qualifying away match against Bahrain, securing a 4–0 victory for the Uzbek side.
Shomurodov was part of the squad that manager Héctor Cúper took to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. He came off the bench to score a late winner in a 2–1 opening victory over Oman, and followed it by scoring twice in a 4–0 win over neighbours Turkmenistan as a starter. In the last group game, he opened a 2–1 loss to Japan as both teams progressed.
On 29 March 2022, Shomurodov scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 win over Uganda in the Nowruz Cup final. He added another three goals on 11 June against the Maldives in a 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifier; his ten goals in that successful qualification campaign made him the second highest scorer behind Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates.
Style of play
Shomurodov is a striker capable of both scoring and providing assists and who can vary across the offensive front. Shomurodov is capable of strong accelerations and progressions on the run, he is also physically strong, he can attack space, has good dynamism and is skilled in aerial play.
For his quality his nicknamed "the Uzbek Messi". He studied the games of Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres as a child.
Career statistics
Club
International
Scores and results list Uzbekistan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Shomurodov goal.
Honours
Mash'al
UzPFL Cup: 2014
Roma
UEFA Europa Conference League: 2021–22
UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2022–23
Individual
Uzbekistan Player of the Year: 2019, 2021
References
External links
Profile at Russian Premier League
1995 births
Living people
People from Surxondaryo Region
Uzbekistani men's footballers
Men's association football forwards
FC Bunyodkor players
FC Rostov players
Genoa CFC players
AS Roma players
Spezia Calcio players
Cagliari Calcio players
Uzbekistan Super League players
Russian Premier League players
Serie A players
Uzbekistan men's youth international footballers
Uzbekistan men's international footballers
2019 AFC Asian Cup players
Uzbekistani expatriate men's footballers
Uzbekistani expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Uzbekistani expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Expatriate men's footballers in Russia
Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
UEFA Europa Conference League winning players