Scoring your country’s first World Cup goal is a pretty good way to get noticed. Abbosbek Fayzullaev did exactly that for Uzbekistan against Colombia, and now Liverpool is paying very close attention.

The 22-year-old forward, who plays for Istanbul Basaksehir, has been tracked by Liverpool scouts throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s early-stage interest rather than a done deal, but the fact that one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs is watching tells you something about the trajectory Fayzullaev is on.

From CSKA Moscow to the World Cup spotlight

Fayzullaev’s journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. A former CSKA Moscow talent, he made the move to Basaksehir in 2025 for a record fee of £7 million.

Then came the World Cup. Uzbekistan qualified for the tournament for the first time in the nation’s history. Fayzullaev made sure the story got even better.

His goal against Colombia in Uzbekistan’s opening match wasn’t just a personal milestone. It was a historic marker for the entire country. The first World Cup goal in Uzbek football history, scored by a 22-year-old who plays his club football in Turkey’s Super Lig.

Fayzullaev’s quick movements and tactical understanding have been highlighted repeatedly by those watching him closely, both in the tournament itself and in Uzbekistan’s warm-up matches leading into it.

Liverpool’s emerging talent strategy under Iraola

Liverpool’s interest in Fayzullaev fits neatly into a broader pattern. Under head coach Andoni Iraola, the club has signaled a willingness to look beyond the traditional scouting pipelines of the top five European leagues.

Fayzullaev moved to Basaksehir for £7 million just last year. Even if his World Cup performances drive his price up significantly, Liverpool would likely be looking at a transfer fee well below what they’d pay for a similarly aged forward from a club in the Premier League or La Liga.

What this means for investors and the transfer market

As of June 18, 2026, no transfer fee, timeline, or formal offer has been confirmed. Liverpool remains in the monitoring phase, which in football scouting terms means they’re gathering data, watching more matches, and assessing whether Fayzullaev’s World Cup form reflects a genuine top-level talent or a tournament-specific hot streak.

For Basaksehir, the situation presents a classic dilemma. They paid a record £7 million for Fayzullaev just last year. If Liverpool or another major club comes calling with a significant offer, selling at a substantial profit after just one season would be a strong return on investment.

The broader signal here is about how the transfer market continues to globalize. Uzbekistan producing a player who’s generating interest from Liverpool would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Uzbekistan’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup also came under the guidance of coach Fabio Cannavaro, a former World Cup winner, providing additional context for the nation’s footballing development.