It’s the 98th minute and Benfica are 3-2 up at home against Real Madrid. That puts them on the cusp of a memorable league phase upset, and yet the desperation is palpable as they win a late free-kick. José Mourinho is yelling from the sidelines, urging goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to push up and attack the set piece. Aren’t they winning already? Yes, but as it stands, Benfica are about to be eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference. They need another goal and fast – and who else should supply it but Trubin himself, flinging himself at the ball like a veteran striker to head past Thibaut Courtois. Cue pandemonium, not only in Lisbon but far away in Ukraine, where Trubin’s exploits provide inspiration to a suffering nation.
“Trubin’s goal was massive news in Ukraine,” says Dima Prasalov, a fan of Trubin’s former club Shakhtar Donetsk. “The big news websites and media outlets put it on their front pages as the story of the day, instead of the usual geopolitical headlines. With the country going through an incredibly difficult period with the war, not to mention severe winter conditions and heating issues, there aren’t many positives in people’s day-to-day lives. Seeing a Ukrainian score what is probably the most memorable Champions League goal of the season so far genuinely uplifted people.”
Like many of his fellow Shakhtar fanatics, Prasalov didn’t need to read about Trubin’s goal in the press the next day. He’s been keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old ever since he swapped Donetsk for Lisbon in 2023, and more so than usual this season. “Him scoring meant the world to us Shakhtar fans. Since we’re not in the Champions League this year, a lot of us chose Benfica as the team to root for – because Georgiy Sudakov and Trubin, two of our most talented academy products of the last decade, now play for Benfica. We celebrated the goal and the win as if he still played for us.”
In an age when players changing clubs typically turns the fans against them, Trubin has clearly bucked the trend. “He still has legendary status among Shakhtar supporters,” adds Prasalov. “Fans love him because he’s an academy player who was born and raised in Donetsk. Since we’ve been unable to recruit from there since 2014 because of the war, he’s one of the last players born there to play for the club. He’s also well respected because he’s always shown respect to Shakhtar. He always comes across as humble, regardless of the circumstances.”
Only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, Trubin booked Benfica’s place in the knockout phase play-offs – for a reunion with Madrid, of all teams. “Madness” is how the keeper himself sums up his headline moment with a little hindsight, the buzz having barely subsided. “I’ve watched it a thousand times since,” he says. “Even now, I still can’t fully realise that it actually happened.”
After the game, the Ukraine custodian drew a parallel between his last-gasp strike and the tenacity of his compatriots. And just as plenty of them remain glued to his feats from afar, Trubin is equally aware of their struggles. “Many people are refusing to give up every day, so we must believe and keep working,” he says. “Right now, the situation is very difficult – both on the front line and for civilians in general. I speak with my family. Temperatures are below zero. Yesterday, they only had electricity for one hour in the whole day, and there’s shelling at night. Ukrainians know what it means not to give up, and we must continue.
“Perhaps life gives us difficulties to help us overcome them. And for strong people, too, of course. Since 2014, I haven’t been home with my family in Donetsk. That’s very hard. I left when I was 13 and I haven’t really seen my relatives … You have to keep some positivity, to find the happy moments, value our time, value moments with loved ones, enjoy football and truly enjoy all of this. I really hope that one day we can all return to Donetsk, go back to the Donbas Arena. And all these difficulties that we Ukrainians go through will strengthen us and help build an even better nation, an even stronger people.”
It’s the 98th minute and Benfica are 3-2 up at home against Real Madrid. That puts them on the cusp of a memorable league phase upset, and yet the desperation is palpable as they win a late free-kick. José Mourinho is yelling from the sidelines, urging goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to push up and attack the set piece. Aren’t they winning already? Yes, but as it stands, Benfica are about to be eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference. They need another goal and fast – and who else should supply it but Trubin himself, flinging himself at the ball like a veteran striker to head past Thibaut Courtois. Cue pandemonium, not only in Lisbon but far away in Ukraine, where Trubin’s exploits provide inspiration to a suffering nation.
“Trubin’s goal was massive news in Ukraine,” says Dima Prasalov, a fan of Trubin’s former club Shakhtar Donetsk. “The big news websites and media outlets put it on their front pages as the story of the day, instead of the usual geopolitical headlines. With the country going through an incredibly difficult period with the war, not to mention severe winter conditions and heating issues, there aren’t many positives in people’s day-to-day lives. Seeing a Ukrainian score what is probably the most memorable Champions League goal of the season so far genuinely uplifted people.”
Like many of his fellow Shakhtar fanatics, Prasalov didn’t need to read about Trubin’s goal in the press the next day. He’s been keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old ever since he swapped Donetsk for Lisbon in 2023, and more so than usual this season. “Him scoring meant the world to us Shakhtar fans. Since we’re not in the Champions League this year, a lot of us chose Benfica as the team to root for – because Georgiy Sudakov and Trubin, two of our most talented academy products of the last decade, now play for Benfica. We celebrated the goal and the win as if he still played for us.”
In an age when players changing clubs typically turns the fans against them, Trubin has clearly bucked the trend. “He still has legendary status among Shakhtar supporters,” adds Prasalov. “Fans love him because he’s an academy player who was born and raised in Donetsk. Since we’ve been unable to recruit from there since 2014 because of the war, he’s one of the last players born there to play for the club. He’s also well respected because he’s always shown respect to Shakhtar. He always comes across as humble, regardless of the circumstances.”
Only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, Trubin booked Benfica’s place in the knockout phase play-offs – for a reunion with Madrid, of all teams. “Madness” is how the keeper himself sums up his headline moment with a little hindsight, the buzz having barely subsided. “I’ve watched it a thousand times since,” he says. “Even now, I still can’t fully realise that it actually happened.”
After the game, the Ukraine custodian drew a parallel between his last-gasp strike and the tenacity of his compatriots. And just as plenty of them remain glued to his feats from afar, Trubin is equally aware of their struggles. “Many people are refusing to give up every day, so we must believe and keep working,” he says. “Right now, the situation is very difficult – both on the front line and for civilians in general. I speak with my family. Temperatures are below zero. Yesterday, they only had electricity for one hour in the whole day, and there’s shelling at night. Ukrainians know what it means not to give up, and we must continue.
“Perhaps life gives us difficulties to help us overcome them. And for strong people, too, of course. Since 2014, I haven’t been home with my family in Donetsk. That’s very hard. I left when I was 13 and I haven’t really seen my relatives … You have to keep some positivity, to find the happy moments, value our time, value moments with loved ones, enjoy football and truly enjoy all of this. I really hope that one day we can all return to Donetsk, go back to the Donbas Arena. And all these difficulties that we Ukrainians go through will strengthen us and help build an even better nation, an even stronger people.”
It’s the 98th minute and Benfica are 3-2 up at home against Real Madrid. That puts them on the cusp of a memorable league phase upset, and yet the desperation is palpable as they win a late free-kick. José Mourinho is yelling from the sidelines, urging goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to push up and attack the set piece. Aren’t they winning already? Yes, but as it stands, Benfica are about to be eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference. They need another goal and fast – and who else should supply it but Trubin himself, flinging himself at the ball like a veteran striker to head past Thibaut Courtois. Cue pandemonium, not only in Lisbon but far away in Ukraine, where Trubin’s exploits provide inspiration to a suffering nation.
“Trubin’s goal was massive news in Ukraine,” says Dima Prasalov, a fan of Trubin’s former club Shakhtar Donetsk. “The big news websites and media outlets put it on their front pages as the story of the day, instead of the usual geopolitical headlines. With the country going through an incredibly difficult period with the war, not to mention severe winter conditions and heating issues, there aren’t many positives in people’s day-to-day lives. Seeing a Ukrainian score what is probably the most memorable Champions League goal of the season so far genuinely uplifted people.”
Like many of his fellow Shakhtar fanatics, Prasalov didn’t need to read about Trubin’s goal in the press the next day. He’s been keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old ever since he swapped Donetsk for Lisbon in 2023, and more so than usual this season. “Him scoring meant the world to us Shakhtar fans. Since we’re not in the Champions League this year, a lot of us chose Benfica as the team to root for – because Georgiy Sudakov and Trubin, two of our most talented academy products of the last decade, now play for Benfica. We celebrated the goal and the win as if he still played for us.”
In an age when players changing clubs typically turns the fans against them, Trubin has clearly bucked the trend. “He still has legendary status among Shakhtar supporters,” adds Prasalov. “Fans love him because he’s an academy player who was born and raised in Donetsk. Since we’ve been unable to recruit from there since 2014 because of the war, he’s one of the last players born there to play for the club. He’s also well respected because he’s always shown respect to Shakhtar. He always comes across as humble, regardless of the circumstances.”
Only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, Trubin booked Benfica’s place in the knockout phase play-offs – for a reunion with Madrid, of all teams. “Madness” is how the keeper himself sums up his headline moment with a little hindsight, the buzz having barely subsided. “I’ve watched it a thousand times since,” he says. “Even now, I still can’t fully realise that it actually happened.”
After the game, the Ukraine custodian drew a parallel between his last-gasp strike and the tenacity of his compatriots. And just as plenty of them remain glued to his feats from afar, Trubin is equally aware of their struggles. “Many people are refusing to give up every day, so we must believe and keep working,” he says. “Right now, the situation is very difficult – both on the front line and for civilians in general. I speak with my family. Temperatures are below zero. Yesterday, they only had electricity for one hour in the whole day, and there’s shelling at night. Ukrainians know what it means not to give up, and we must continue.
“Perhaps life gives us difficulties to help us overcome them. And for strong people, too, of course. Since 2014, I haven’t been home with my family in Donetsk. That’s very hard. I left when I was 13 and I haven’t really seen my relatives … You have to keep some positivity, to find the happy moments, value our time, value moments with loved ones, enjoy football and truly enjoy all of this. I really hope that one day we can all return to Donetsk, go back to the Donbas Arena. And all these difficulties that we Ukrainians go through will strengthen us and help build an even better nation, an even stronger people.”
It’s the 98th minute and Benfica are 3-2 up at home against Real Madrid. That puts them on the cusp of a memorable league phase upset, and yet the desperation is palpable as they win a late free-kick. José Mourinho is yelling from the sidelines, urging goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to push up and attack the set piece. Aren’t they winning already? Yes, but as it stands, Benfica are about to be eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference. They need another goal and fast – and who else should supply it but Trubin himself, flinging himself at the ball like a veteran striker to head past Thibaut Courtois. Cue pandemonium, not only in Lisbon but far away in Ukraine, where Trubin’s exploits provide inspiration to a suffering nation.
“Trubin’s goal was massive news in Ukraine,” says Dima Prasalov, a fan of Trubin’s former club Shakhtar Donetsk. “The big news websites and media outlets put it on their front pages as the story of the day, instead of the usual geopolitical headlines. With the country going through an incredibly difficult period with the war, not to mention severe winter conditions and heating issues, there aren’t many positives in people’s day-to-day lives. Seeing a Ukrainian score what is probably the most memorable Champions League goal of the season so far genuinely uplifted people.”
Like many of his fellow Shakhtar fanatics, Prasalov didn’t need to read about Trubin’s goal in the press the next day. He’s been keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old ever since he swapped Donetsk for Lisbon in 2023, and more so than usual this season. “Him scoring meant the world to us Shakhtar fans. Since we’re not in the Champions League this year, a lot of us chose Benfica as the team to root for – because Georgiy Sudakov and Trubin, two of our most talented academy products of the last decade, now play for Benfica. We celebrated the goal and the win as if he still played for us.”
In an age when players changing clubs typically turns the fans against them, Trubin has clearly bucked the trend. “He still has legendary status among Shakhtar supporters,” adds Prasalov. “Fans love him because he’s an academy player who was born and raised in Donetsk. Since we’ve been unable to recruit from there since 2014 because of the war, he’s one of the last players born there to play for the club. He’s also well respected because he’s always shown respect to Shakhtar. He always comes across as humble, regardless of the circumstances.”
Only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, Trubin booked Benfica’s place in the knockout phase play-offs – for a reunion with Madrid, of all teams. “Madness” is how the keeper himself sums up his headline moment with a little hindsight, the buzz having barely subsided. “I’ve watched it a thousand times since,” he says. “Even now, I still can’t fully realise that it actually happened.”
After the game, the Ukraine custodian drew a parallel between his last-gasp strike and the tenacity of his compatriots. And just as plenty of them remain glued to his feats from afar, Trubin is equally aware of their struggles. “Many people are refusing to give up every day, so we must believe and keep working,” he says. “Right now, the situation is very difficult – both on the front line and for civilians in general. I speak with my family. Temperatures are below zero. Yesterday, they only had electricity for one hour in the whole day, and there’s shelling at night. Ukrainians know what it means not to give up, and we must continue.
“Perhaps life gives us difficulties to help us overcome them. And for strong people, too, of course. Since 2014, I haven’t been home with my family in Donetsk. That’s very hard. I left when I was 13 and I haven’t really seen my relatives … You have to keep some positivity, to find the happy moments, value our time, value moments with loved ones, enjoy football and truly enjoy all of this. I really hope that one day we can all return to Donetsk, go back to the Donbas Arena. And all these difficulties that we Ukrainians go through will strengthen us and help build an even better nation, an even stronger people.”
It’s the 98th minute and Benfica are 3-2 up at home against Real Madrid. That puts them on the cusp of a memorable league phase upset, and yet the desperation is palpable as they win a late free-kick. José Mourinho is yelling from the sidelines, urging goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to push up and attack the set piece. Aren’t they winning already? Yes, but as it stands, Benfica are about to be eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference. They need another goal and fast – and who else should supply it but Trubin himself, flinging himself at the ball like a veteran striker to head past Thibaut Courtois. Cue pandemonium, not only in Lisbon but far away in Ukraine, where Trubin’s exploits provide inspiration to a suffering nation.
“Trubin’s goal was massive news in Ukraine,” says Dima Prasalov, a fan of Trubin’s former club Shakhtar Donetsk. “The big news websites and media outlets put it on their front pages as the story of the day, instead of the usual geopolitical headlines. With the country going through an incredibly difficult period with the war, not to mention severe winter conditions and heating issues, there aren’t many positives in people’s day-to-day lives. Seeing a Ukrainian score what is probably the most memorable Champions League goal of the season so far genuinely uplifted people.”
Like many of his fellow Shakhtar fanatics, Prasalov didn’t need to read about Trubin’s goal in the press the next day. He’s been keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old ever since he swapped Donetsk for Lisbon in 2023, and more so than usual this season. “Him scoring meant the world to us Shakhtar fans. Since we’re not in the Champions League this year, a lot of us chose Benfica as the team to root for – because Georgiy Sudakov and Trubin, two of our most talented academy products of the last decade, now play for Benfica. We celebrated the goal and the win as if he still played for us.”
In an age when players changing clubs typically turns the fans against them, Trubin has clearly bucked the trend. “He still has legendary status among Shakhtar supporters,” adds Prasalov. “Fans love him because he’s an academy player who was born and raised in Donetsk. Since we’ve been unable to recruit from there since 2014 because of the war, he’s one of the last players born there to play for the club. He’s also well respected because he’s always shown respect to Shakhtar. He always comes across as humble, regardless of the circumstances.”
Only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, Trubin booked Benfica’s place in the knockout phase play-offs – for a reunion with Madrid, of all teams. “Madness” is how the keeper himself sums up his headline moment with a little hindsight, the buzz having barely subsided. “I’ve watched it a thousand times since,” he says. “Even now, I still can’t fully realise that it actually happened.”
After the game, the Ukraine custodian drew a parallel between his last-gasp strike and the tenacity of his compatriots. And just as plenty of them remain glued to his feats from afar, Trubin is equally aware of their struggles. “Many people are refusing to give up every day, so we must believe and keep working,” he says. “Right now, the situation is very difficult – both on the front line and for civilians in general. I speak with my family. Temperatures are below zero. Yesterday, they only had electricity for one hour in the whole day, and there’s shelling at night. Ukrainians know what it means not to give up, and we must continue.
“Perhaps life gives us difficulties to help us overcome them. And for strong people, too, of course. Since 2014, I haven’t been home with my family in Donetsk. That’s very hard. I left when I was 13 and I haven’t really seen my relatives … You have to keep some positivity, to find the happy moments, value our time, value moments with loved ones, enjoy football and truly enjoy all of this. I really hope that one day we can all return to Donetsk, go back to the Donbas Arena. And all these difficulties that we Ukrainians go through will strengthen us and help build an even better nation, an even stronger people.”
It’s the 98th minute and Benfica are 3-2 up at home against Real Madrid. That puts them on the cusp of a memorable league phase upset, and yet the desperation is palpable as they win a late free-kick. José Mourinho is yelling from the sidelines, urging goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to push up and attack the set piece. Aren’t they winning already? Yes, but as it stands, Benfica are about to be eliminated from the Champions League on goal difference. They need another goal and fast – and who else should supply it but Trubin himself, flinging himself at the ball like a veteran striker to head past Thibaut Courtois. Cue pandemonium, not only in Lisbon but far away in Ukraine, where Trubin’s exploits provide inspiration to a suffering nation.
“Trubin’s goal was massive news in Ukraine,” says Dima Prasalov, a fan of Trubin’s former club Shakhtar Donetsk. “The big news websites and media outlets put it on their front pages as the story of the day, instead of the usual geopolitical headlines. With the country going through an incredibly difficult period with the war, not to mention severe winter conditions and heating issues, there aren’t many positives in people’s day-to-day lives. Seeing a Ukrainian score what is probably the most memorable Champions League goal of the season so far genuinely uplifted people.”
Like many of his fellow Shakhtar fanatics, Prasalov didn’t need to read about Trubin’s goal in the press the next day. He’s been keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old ever since he swapped Donetsk for Lisbon in 2023, and more so than usual this season. “Him scoring meant the world to us Shakhtar fans. Since we’re not in the Champions League this year, a lot of us chose Benfica as the team to root for – because Georgiy Sudakov and Trubin, two of our most talented academy products of the last decade, now play for Benfica. We celebrated the goal and the win as if he still played for us.”
In an age when players changing clubs typically turns the fans against them, Trubin has clearly bucked the trend. “He still has legendary status among Shakhtar supporters,” adds Prasalov. “Fans love him because he’s an academy player who was born and raised in Donetsk. Since we’ve been unable to recruit from there since 2014 because of the war, he’s one of the last players born there to play for the club. He’s also well respected because he’s always shown respect to Shakhtar. He always comes across as humble, regardless of the circumstances.”
Only the fifth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League, Trubin booked Benfica’s place in the knockout phase play-offs – for a reunion with Madrid, of all teams. “Madness” is how the keeper himself sums up his headline moment with a little hindsight, the buzz having barely subsided. “I’ve watched it a thousand times since,” he says. “Even now, I still can’t fully realise that it actually happened.”
After the game, the Ukraine custodian drew a parallel between his last-gasp strike and the tenacity of his compatriots. And just as plenty of them remain glued to his feats from afar, Trubin is equally aware of their struggles. “Many people are refusing to give up every day, so we must believe and keep working,” he says. “Right now, the situation is very difficult – both on the front line and for civilians in general. I speak with my family. Temperatures are below zero. Yesterday, they only had electricity for one hour in the whole day, and there’s shelling at night. Ukrainians know what it means not to give up, and we must continue.
“Perhaps life gives us difficulties to help us overcome them. And for strong people, too, of course. Since 2014, I haven’t been home with my family in Donetsk. That’s very hard. I left when I was 13 and I haven’t really seen my relatives … You have to keep some positivity, to find the happy moments, value our time, value moments with loved ones, enjoy football and truly enjoy all of this. I really hope that one day we can all return to Donetsk, go back to the Donbas Arena. And all these difficulties that we Ukrainians go through will strengthen us and help build an even better nation, an even stronger people.”
