'So emotional': World moved by Ukrainian star's 'beautiful moment'

Ukrainian football star Andriy Yarmolenko has captured the hearts of fans around the world after a powerful moment in his return to the English Premier League.

Yarmolenko had been given compassionate leave by West Ham to deal with family issues and the distress of Russia's war that has been raging in his homeland.

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However, he returned to the Hammers side to score the opening goal in a vital 2-1 win over an in-form Aston Villa side.

The Ukrainian had not featured since early February for David Moyes' men but was called upon as a second half substitute and made a quick impact by scoring the opening goal of the game.

Yarmolenko sank to his knees and broke down in tears as he was mobbed by his teammates in celebration.

"It was so emotional for me because of the situation in my country," Yarmolenko said after the match.

"It is so difficult for me right now in this moment thinking about football because every day, the Russian army is killing Ukrainian people.

The Ukrainian star was given a standing ovation when he entered the game in the second half and his 70th minute strike changed a match that destined to end all square.

“To be honest, I don’t know what to say,” he added.

“I just want to say thank you to my team-mates, who support me all the time, every day. To West Ham fans, they also support me and Ukrainian people and also [thanks] to all British people, because we feel you support us. Thank you, really.”

"It was so emotional. To be honest, I don't know what to say. I just want to say thank you to my teammates, who support me all the time, every day. To West Ham fans, they also support me and Ukrainian people and also to all British people, because we feel you support us.

Yarmolenko's incredible moment touched the hearts of fans from all over the world.

Andriy Yarmolenko returns to Premier League in style

The Ukrainian was given time off by the London club to aid the safe passage of some family members out of the country and recover from the distress caused by the outbreak of war.

While he was understandably short of match fitness and had the troubling situation in Ukraine at the forefront of his thoughts, Yarmolenko dedicated his performance to his homeland.

"I'm not ready for 100 percent because the last two weeks I train maybe three or four times.

"Since 26 February, I had to rest for four days because it was impossible to train, I was just thinking about my family and my people. I just tried to give everything on the pitch."

Yarmolenko's strike helped keep West Ham's aspirations of European football next season alive, with the Hammers in sixth but just three points off fourth-placed Arsenal.

But Hammers manager Moyes reiterated the need to keep football's importance in perspective.

"We have given the boy as much time as he needs," said Moyes.

"His family are safe at the moment, he tells me. He wants to make sure everybody is fine and he has a lot going on.

"Sometimes, football is a release and hopefully he has had a bit of a release getting on the pitch again and scoring but there are more important things in life than football."

with agencies

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