Alexander Golovin, the Russia-born midfielder for Monaco, said he remained unfazed by the moment when Benfica’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin declined to shake his hand. The incident surfaced as Trubin played Dota 2 on Twitch, a livestream that drew attention just before the teams faced off in Champions League group-stage action.
“Overall, I don’t care about yesterday’s situation. Believe me, I don’t care. It’s not interesting at all. Forget it”, Golovin stated, keeping his tone steady and concise as he moved on from the moment on the field and in the spotlight.
The scene unfolded ahead of the fifth round of the Champions League group stage. In the traditional pre-match greeting, Trubin bypassed Golovin without extending a handshake, and the Russian midfielder looked at his opponent with a hint of disbelief as cameras captured the unexpected moment. The quiet tension of the hallway gave way to a stadium crowd buzzing with anticipation, while both players prepared for a high-stakes clash that would test their teams’ early-season form.
Benfica eventually triumphed 3-2 in a gripping match in which Golovin contributed with an assist, helping Monaco push for a late comeback. The outcome added another layer to a group that was already shaping up as tightly contested, underscoring how fine margins can decide a fixture between clubs hungry for momentum in Europe’s top competition.
After five rounds, Monaco sat eighth in the standings with ten points, while Benfica trailed in 14th place with nine points. The upcoming Champions League slate had Monaco traveling away to Arsenal in London, while Benfica prepared to host Bologna in a fixture that could rebalance the table and set the tone for the remainder of the group phase.
Earlier, rumors circulated that the father of the Ukrainian goalkeeper pledged to slap his son for not shaking Golovin’s hand, a sensational detail that spread quickly across social media and among fans. The anecdote highlighted how the incident extended beyond the pitch, fueling conversations about sportsmanship, rivalries, and the human side of football at the highest level.