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EPL Khusanov in action for Uzbekistan Alex Grimm/FIFA via Getty Images It’s not often in a pre-match press conference you hear a manager asked about the threat of an opposition central defender. That’s exactly what happened before Uzbekistan’s friendly against Gabon in Tashkent. The threat? Abdukodir Khusanov. Given he rarely strays over the halfway line in open play, it might be a curious question to ask. Advertisement However, while the Manchester City defender is by some distance Uzbekistan’s most famous player, he’s also clearly their best player, both in defence with his rapid pace and exceptional reading of the game, but also at starting attacks with pinpoint raking passes over the top. “He is a very talented player, ” Gabon manager Anicet Yala says. “He’s young, he has very strong abilities and he’s playing for a very big club in Manchester City. We as a team will have a strategy to beat him. ” The fact that the 22-year-old Khusanov is suspended for the match following a red card in his previous Uzbekistan appearance, a friendly against Iran in November, does not reflect at all well on the data collection abilities of the Gabon FA, nor the research abilities of the Uzbek journalist who asked the question, but that’s by the by. The point is that Khusanov is a major talking point when it comes to Uzbek football (even if he’s not playing, clearly). A few days later, in Uzbekistan’s next match against Venezuela, we see precisely why… In a country that admires and adores Cristiano Ronaldo more than any other footballer, Khusanov is Uzbekistan’s version of the Portuguese superstar. In fact, Khusanov has become – or is certainly on his way to becoming – the first ever globally renowned Uzbek footballer. Since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, a couple of players have come close to achieving that status. Midfielder Odil Ahmedov won more than 100 caps for his country and played in the Anzhi Makhachkala team that also featured Samuel Eto’o and Roberto Carlos. Arsene Wenger was reportedly a fan, but a rumoured move to Arsenal in 2012 never materialised. Record goalscorer and current captain Eldor Shomurodov’s career has taken him to Serie A with Genoa and Roma (where he is on loan from with Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey) and has been a true great in the modern history of Uzbek football. Advertisement But Khusanov’s rapid three-year rise from Energetik-BGU in Belarus to Lens in Ligue 1 and now to one of the biggest clubs in the world in Manchester City — where he has played regularly in the Premier League and Champions League, and won the Carabao Cup — tops anyone else in Uzbekistan’s footballing history. And he’s only 22. In Uzbekistan’s capital city of Tashkent, everyone The Athletic speaks to knows who Khusanov is, whether they follow football or not. How could they not? Khusanov is a huge celebrity. His face is plastered on billboards that advertise various products and reference the upcoming World Cup, at which Uzbekistan will compete for the first time (becoming the first ever Central Asian country to do so). When he got married last year, it was big national news. So was the birth of their first child last month. Uzbek news website Zamin gushingly reported on the birth, stating: “Many wish for the newborn to grow up to be as strong, strong-willed, and a person who will make the country’s honour known to the world as their father. “On behalf of the editorial staff of Zamin. uz and numerous football fans, we congratulate Abdukodir Khusanov on his new successor! May the baby’s steps be blessed, may he grow up to be a righteous child who brings mercy to his parents! ” One of the reasons Khusanov’s star burns so brightly back home is that it’s still rare for Uzbek footballers to flee the nest and make it abroad, especially at such a young age (he was 18 when he left Tashkent-based club Bunyodkor for Belarus). As many as 15 from the most recent squad for the March internationals against Gabon and Venezuela play their football in the Uzbekistan Super League, while another eight are in nearby Iran, Iraq or the United Arab Emirates. In a country that, up until a decade ago, was secretive and insular, and repressed human rights, it’s an unusual path for a footballer to head overseas and make it big. Advertisement With eyes starting to turn towards Uzbekistan’s drastically improved footballing standards (millions have been spent on infrastructure, academies, pitches and coaching, leading to success at under-17 and under-20 levels), Khusanov may not be the last to play in the Premier League or become a huge celebrity back home, but he is the first. At the Gabon match, Khusanov needs minders to protect him as he watches from the stands. He watched Uzbekistan win 3-1, but the team concede several chances to the wasteful Central African team and the weak defensive performance is blamed by journalists solely on Khusanov being absent. It’s considered that when he’s back in the side, their defence will immeasurably improve. Against Venezuela three days later, that’s exactly what happens; Khusanov returns to the side in the middle of their familiar back three system and all is well again. In fact, during a 0-0 draw, Khusanov’s stellar performance is the main entertainment for the sell-out 29, 000 crowd. He brushes Venezuela and Los Angeles FC forward David Martinez to the floor and shepherds the ball through to the ‘keeper. Wild cheers from the home fans. He pings a pinpoint 50-yarder out to the winger Oston Urunov. Rousing applause and an “ooooooh” noise. He throws his body in the way of Carlos Sosa’s goalbound volley in stoppage time. Another “ooooooh” and huge celebrations. People are on their feet to applaud. Time and again, Venezuela play long balls over the top for their pacey attackers to chase, and time and again, Khusanov outsprints them and shepherds the ball either behind for a goal kick or back to the keeper, normally while leaving the opposition player in a heap on the ground. It’s basically a party piece. At one point, he nonchalantly dinks the ball over a Venezuela player and starts an attack (more “oooohs”). These are not the actions of a typical centre-back. Ergo, it must be concluded Khusanov is atypical. Advertisement It’s far too easy for him, in fact, in what must surely be the most dominant central defensive performance you will see during the international break. Uzbekistan win on penalties and are handed the FIFA Series trophy after the match, the second trophy Khusanov lifts in a week after the Carabao Cup. His exceptional performance also leads him to be named player of the tournament, despite not having featured in the Gabon match. Uzbeks have known for some time about Khusanov’s brilliance and, after a ropey start, City fans are now acutely aware too. This summer, he will carry the weight of an expectant nation into their first World Cup. On recent evidence, expect him to thrive. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Tim Spiers is a football journalist for The Athletic, based in London. He joined in 2019 having previously worked at the Express & Star in Wolverhampton. Follow Tim on Twitter @Tim Spiers