Who is Mykhailo Mudryk? The 'Ukrainian Neymar' wanted by Arsenal and Man City

Shakhtar Donetsk have been a regular feature in the Champions League, yet so often fail to progress beyond the group stage. Seemingly always drawn alongside Real Madrid and another European powerhouse, there is a risk they'll miss out on a spot in the last-16 once more. 

They currently sit on six points after five games having won once and drawn three times. RB Leipzig stand between the Ukrainian side and a spot in the knockout stages of the competition, the German side currently second in Group F following a three-game winning run, including an impressive 3-2 win over the European champions on Tuesday night. 

However, Shakhtar's sole win in the competition group stages came in gameweek one as they trounced RB Leipzig 4-1 in Germany, a defeat that proved the end of Domenico Tedesco's time in charge of the Bundesliga side. The star man in that memorable win? Mykhailo Mudryk, of course. The Ukrainian winger provided two assists and scored in the victory to further boost his repuation. 

In recent months, stock in Mudryk has continued to soar, as he once again found the back of the net in midweek, this time rifling an effort past Joe Hart in a 1-1 draw with Celtic. Shakhtar reportedly received offers for the winger in the summer, yet rebuffed efforts by Europe's biggest sides to cash in on Mudryk, for the simple reason that they believe he'll be worth more in time. Their gamble has certainly been paying off. Interested parties will be aware of an increase in competition in his services, with the Ukrainian going from strength-to-strength, and that has only seen his value rise.

His versatility is a core strength of his, with Mudryk able to play anywhere across the frontline, though is favoured position is on the left wing. Here he looks to get his head down and beat a marker and while it doesn't always pay off - Mudryk averages 1.8 successful dribbles per 90 from 5.1 attempted - the determination to get the better of an opponents has helped propel him into the limelight. 

That's also a key reason behind his nickname. A style of play is not too dissimilar from a certain Brazilian wing-wizard, it's seen Mudryk dubbed the 'Ukrainian Neymar' as a result. That's not to say Mudryk is the finished product, far from it in fact, but the signs are positive for the Ukraine international. Not only is there a willingness to ghost past a defender, but to get his head up and look for a teammate too. Indeed, Mudryk is making a modest one key pass per 90 in the Champions League this season and while a small sample size, it's a respectable return. 

And opponents have cottoned on that he is one of Shakhtar's primary attacking threats, noted in that he is fouled an average of 1.6 times per 90 in the Champions League this season. Again, it's a small sample size, but Mudryk is shining in Europe's elite club competition for a third seed side. What's notable still is that the winger is willing to get stuck in and isn't just the flashy star of this Shakhtar side. 

A return of 1.2 tackles per 90 is a notable return for a player in his position, particularly when you consider that Shakhtar rank fifth for tackles per 90 (19.4) in the group stages of the Champions League, with Mudryk working hard for the team. Crucially is that he takes his chance when it does come to him, as one would hope from any winger. 

Of the 83 players to have had more than five shots, Mudryk's conversion rate of 37.5% is the fifth best in the Champions League this season. He may have been overly prolific, scoring in just five of 11 appearances for Shakhtar in 2022/23, yet when presented with a goalscoring opportunity, the 21-year-old often finds the back of the net. 

Interest from heavy hitters doesn't come as much of a surprise now. "Arsenal and Manchester City? They are two teams that have taken an interest in the player," Shakhtar deputy sporting director Carlo Nicolini recently stated, and to have been courted by the pair speaks volumes of the impact he has made in the Champions League. A January move away wouldn't come as a surprise, though that does depend on the offer, as Mudryk gears up to take the footballing world by storm.