Heorhiy Sudakov


Heorhiy Viktorovych Sudakov is a Ukrainian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left midfielder for Primeira Liga club Benfica, on loan from Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk, and the Ukraine national team.

Club career

Shakhtar Donetsk

Sudakov is a product of the different youth sportive schools, who in 2017 joined the Shakhtar Donetsk Academy in the Ukrainian Premier League in 2020. He played in the Ukrainian Premier League Reserves and made his debut for Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League in a winning away match against Real Madrid on 21 October 2020.
On 13 February 2022, Sudakov and Mykhailo Mudryk extended their contracts with Shakhtar Donetsk until 31 December 2026. On 25 October 2023, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 2–1 away defeat against Barcelona. On 1 February 2024, Shakhtar announced that Sudakov had extended his contract with the club until 31 December 2028. Later that year, on 11 May, he netted a penalty in a 1–0 victory over second-placed Dynamo Kyiv, securing his club's 15th league title in the 2023–24 season.

Benfica

On 30 August 2025, Sudakov transferred to Primeira Liga side Benfica, on a loan fee of €6.75 million with an obligation to buy for €20.25 million, plus €5 million in possible add-ons related to the player's performances, with Shakhtar Donetsk also entitled to 25% of the profit of a future sale. He made his debut for the club on 12 September, replacing Andreas Schjelderup in the 73rd minute in a home match over Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga, and scored his first goal in the competition on 20 September, contributing to a 3–0 away victory over AVS.

International career

Sudakov represented Ukraine at under-17 and under-21 levels. He was a part of the Ukraine national under-21 football team squad that qualified to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi final.
Sudakov debuted for the Ukrainian senior squad on 23 May 2021 in a friendly match against Bahrain.
In June 2021, he is on the list of 26 players summoned by Andriy Shevchenko to compete for the UEFA Euro 2020.
In May 2024, he was on the list of 26 players summoned by Serhiy Rebrov for the UEFA Euro 2024.

Career statistics

Club

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.14 October 2023Stadion Letná, Prague, Czech Republic1–02–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
2.11 June 2024Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova4–04–0Friendly
3.10 September 2024Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic2–32–32024–25 UEFA Nations League
4.9 September 2025Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan1–01–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Shakhtar Donetsk
Individual
  • Ukrainian Premier League Young Player of the Season: 2019–20
  • UEFA European Under-21 Championship top scorer: 2023
  • Shakhtar Donetsk Player of the Year: 2023
  • Golden talent of Ukraine: 2023
  • Primera Liga Goal of the Month: November 2025