Stepanov's Dream Debut for Ukraine in Doubt After Injury

Artem Stepanov arrived in Rotterdam as one of the few bright spots in FC Utrecht’s bleak start to the season. Half an hour into the match at De Kuip, he left the pitch in tears, his immediate future with Ukraine suddenly hanging by a thread.

The forward went down awkwardly after a duel with Feyenoord defender Givairo Read. One twist, one bad landing, and the alarm bells were ringing. Stepanov stayed down, clutching himself, and the look on his face told the story before the medical team even reached him.

He tried to continue. He couldn’t.

The tall striker sank onto the turf, visibly distraught. Medical staff worked on him, but the pain didn’t ease and the verdict was swift: he would not go on. Anthony Correia came off the bench to replace him, while Stepanov walked off the pitch in tears, his shirt over his face, his season suddenly clouded by uncertainty.

The timing could hardly be worse. While Utrecht have stumbled out of the blocks this campaign, Stepanov has been ruthless. He scored in each of his first five league matches, a blistering run that matched Rafael van der Vaart’s notable streak from 2001. Those goals didn’t just keep Utrecht afloat; they propelled Stepanov onto the international radar.

His reward was a long-awaited call-up to the Ukraine national team. The Nations League group stage begins on Friday, with Hungary up first, and Stepanov was on course for a possible senior debut after years of work through the youth ranks.

Now everything is on hold.

It is doubtful whether he will recover in time to join up with Ukraine. The Utrecht forward has worn his country’s colours at various youth levels, but the step to the full national team has always remained just out of reach. This week was supposed to change that.

Instead, the question hangs over him: will that debut have to wait yet again?