A dark horse when he nodded Sweden out of the European Championship 2021.
Now he is one of Europe's hottest strikers – and a potential European Championship star.
I want our team to show our full potential in the European Championship, says Ukraine's attacking ace Artem Dovbyk.
The European Championship round of 16 in 2021 between Sweden and Ukraine looked set to go to a penalty shootout. But right at the end came the sequence that extinguished Sweden's dreams. A hard cross was lifted into Sweden's penalty area, substitute Artem Dovbyk threw himself forward and nodded in 2–1.
Ukraine advanced. Sweden eliminated.
Then and there, Dovbyk was a dark horse. Yes, he had scored a few goals for Dnipro-1. But for the wider public, it was hardly a name that people had a good grasp on.
"A historic moment"
Fast-forward to 2024 and Dovbyk is being talked about in a completely different way.
Quite sensationally, the 26-year-old won the top scorer award with Spanish Girona last season. In the final round, he scored a hat-trick in the 7–0 win over Granada.
Of course, I couldn't imagine at the start of the season that I would win. But as the season went on, I realised I had the opportunity, he says to the Ukrainian Football Federation's website.
Girona – owned by the same company as Manchester City – finished third in La Liga and Dovbyk scored 24 goals. The third place means the team will play in the Champions League for the first time next season.
Both I and the team did well. Qualifying for the Champions League is a historic moment for Girona.
"At least three tough matches"
He was also instrumental in leading the Ukrainian national team to the European Championship in Germany. In the playoff semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was Dovbyk's late goal that took Ukraine to the final.
I want our team to show our full potential in the European Championship. I won't have any specific goal for myself. We must prepare well since we have at least three tough matches ahead of us.
For Dovbyk and his Ukraine, it will be a special European Championship played in the shadow of what is happening in their homeland. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and since then, a war has been ongoing.
Ukraine has played all their qualifying matches abroad – and when the European Championship advancement was secured, they were hailed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Thank you. For the overwhelming emotions for the whole country. For an overwhelming victory and advancement to the European Championship. For proving once again: when Ukrainians have it tough, but don't give up and keep fighting, then Ukrainians definitely win", he said in a statement.
Friday 14/6: Germany–Scotland (9 pm)
Saturday 15/6: Hungary–Switzerland (3 pm), Spain–Croatia (6 pm), Italy–Albania (9 pm)
Sunday 16/6: Poland–Netherlands (3 pm), Slovenia–Denmark (6 pm), Serbia–England (9 pm)
Monday 17/6: Romania–Ukraine (3 pm), Belgium–Slovakia (6 pm), Austria–France (9 pm)
Tuesday 18/6: Turkey–Georgia (6 pm), Portugal–Czech Republic (9 pm)
The two best teams in each group advance to the round of 16. In addition, the four best third-placed teams also advance. The European Championship takes place from 14 June to 14 July.
