How Ukraine's Top Footballers Abroad Fared This Weekend: Yarmolyuk, Trubin, and Zabarnyi

How Ukraine's International Players Performed from February 21-23, 2026

According to Главком: Ukrainian footballers competing in foreign leagues experienced a weekend of mixed results from February 21 to 23, 2026. This comes as the Ukrainian national team continues its preparations for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs. The performances of these players are closely watched, as they form the core of the national squad.

• Friday, February 21, 2026

  In the English Premier League, Brentford, featuring midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk, suffered a 0-2 defeat to Brighton. This result was a setback for a team aiming to climb the league table.

  Meanwhile, in Portugal's Primeira Liga, goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin kept a clean sheet as Benfica secured a convincing 3-0 victory over ABC. The win highlighted the team's strong form as they contend for the title.

  In France's Ligue 1, defender Illia Zabarnyi helped Paris Saint-Germain to a 3-0 win against Metz, a result that allowed PSG to maintain their position at the top of the standings.

• Saturday, February 22, 2026

  The MLS season kicked off with Austin FC, where Oleksandr Svatko plays, drawing 2-2 with Minnesota United. In Italy's Serie A, Ruslan Malinovskyi's Genoa delivered a dominant 3-0 performance against Torino. However, in France, striker Roman Yaremchuk's Lyon fell to a 1-3 loss against Strasbourg.

• Sunday, February 23, 2026

  In Spain's La Liga, Girona, with attackers Viktor Tsyhankov and Vladyslav Vanat in the lineup, was held to a 2-2 draw by Alavés, a result that impacted their standing in the league.

Looking ahead, the Ukrainian national team faces a pivotal World Cup qualifying playoff semi-final against Sweden on March 26, 2026. The team recently advanced by defeating Iceland 2-0 in a playoff match, with goals from Zubkov in the 83rd minute and Hutsuliak in stoppage time.

Overall, the active and influential roles played by these Ukrainian exports across Europe's top leagues underscore their high level of professionalism and importance to their respective clubs.

These club performances are vital for maintaining form and sharpness ahead of the national team's decisive upcoming fixtures on the path to the 2026 World Cup.