Abbosbek Fayzullaev

Abbosbek Fayzullaev secured his place in Uzbekistan's football history on 17 June 2026, scoring his country's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Colombia. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, playing his debut World Cup, cancelled out Colombia's opener with a 60th-minute strike, though Uzbekistan ultimately lost the Group K match 3-1. Uzbekistan were appearing at the World Cup for the first time in their history.

Born on 3 October 2003 in Uzbekistan, Fayzullaev came through the ranks at Pakhtakor, the country's dominant club, making his debut in the Uzbekistan Super League in May 2021. He became a standout talent in Central Asian football, earning a move to CSKA Moscow in August 2023 before transferring to Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir, where he scored 3 goals and registered 3 assists in the 2025-26 season. He represented Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup as one of the squad's most dynamic attacking options.

Fayzullaev's goal against Colombia made him one of a group of debutant nations' players to open their country's World Cup account in 2026. At 22, he is among the youngest players in Uzbekistan's squad and a central figure as the country builds towards future tournaments.