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.[3] He made his debut on 19 October in a goalless draw at Hellas Verona, being substituted for Gianluca Scamacca after 63 minutes;[4] his first goal on 30 November was consolation in a 2–1 home loss to Parma.[5] 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.[6]
Roma
On 2 August 2021, Roma announced the acquisition of Shomurodov on a five-year contract for €17.5 million plus bonuses.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]
On 30 January 2023, Spezia signed Shomurodov on loan until the end of the season.[11]
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.[12] He returned to Roma after the end of his loan to Cagliari in summer 2024.
Shomurodov and two teammates were listed as nominees for best young players of Asia by AFC in 2015.[citation needed]
Senior
Eldor Shomurodov (№14) at 2019 Asian Cup
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.[14] 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.[citation needed]
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,[15] and followed it by scoring twice in a 4–0 win over neighbours Turkmenistan as a starter.[16] In the last group game, he opened a 2–1 loss to Japan as both teams progressed.[17]
On 29 March 2022, Shomurodov scored a hat-trick in a 4–2 win over Uganda in the Nowruz Cup final.[18] He added another three goals on 11 June against the Maldives in a 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifier;[19] his ten goals in that successful qualification campaign made him the second highest scorer behind Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates.[20]
On 14 June 2023, Shomurodov scored a brace in a 2–0 victory over Turkmenistan during the CAFA Nations Cup, in which he became his country's all-time top scorer with 36 goals, breaking previous record of Maxim Shatskikh.[21]
Shomurodov missed out on the 2023 AFC Asian Cup due to a leg injury, in which Uzbekistan reached the quarter-finals.
Shomurodov was included in the squad for the 2024 Olympic Games,[22] Uzbekistan’s first participation to the Olympic Football Tournament.
On 24 July 2024, during the first group stage match against Spain, he scored Uzbekistan’s first ever goal in the Olympic history, from the penalty spot.[23]
Style of play
Shomurodov is a striker capable of both scoring and providing assists and who can vary across the offensive front.[24][25][3] Shomurodov is capable of strong accelerations and progressions on the run,[26] he is also physically strong, he can attack space, has good dynamism and is skilled in aerial play.[27]
.jpg)
