Róbert Boženík

Róbert Boženík (born 18 November 1999) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a striker for Portuguese club Boavista, and the Slovakia national team.

2018–19 season
Boženík made his professional Fortuna Liga debut for Žilina against Nitra on 28 July 2018, scoring the winning goal in the 54th minute, after an assist by Jakub Holúbek. He was named Fortuna Liga's player of the month for October 2018. Boženík was also praised for his successful spell and crowned one of the league's greatest talents after the autumn part of the 2018–19 season by experts in the media. On 1 December 2018, MŠK had announced a contract extension until June 2022.

In the final round of the main part of the Fortuna Liga season, Boženík replaced Filip Balaj in the 76th minute and scoring the decisive goal, ending in a 2–1 victory for MSK Žilina against ŽP Šport Podbrezová. At the Slovnaft Cup against FC Spartak Trnava, Boženík was also one of the players who missed a penalty in the shoot-out. However, in the league, it took him $2 1/2$ months to score again, scoring two against Ružomberok in final match of the season, in a 4–2 victory. Overall, Boženík completed the season with 15 goals in 39 competitive games for Žilina.

2019–20 season
Based on past season's performances, Boženík was expected to rank among Fortuna Liga's leading top scorers in the new season as well. On 21 September 2019, Boženík scored against competition's newcomer FK Pohronie, securing the 2–1 victory alongside Filip Kaša.

At the Slovnaft Cup, Boženík came on as a tactical substitute to avoid an upset elimination in a match against Odeva Lipany, earning a 1–0 victory for Žilina after a goal by Patrik Myslovič. During a yellow card suspension, he played single 2. Liga fixture against Komárno (1–1) for MŠK reserve squad on 27 October 2019, secured the point for MŠK with a late equaliser.

Feyenoord
On 27 January 2020, Boženík signed a $4 1/2$-year contract with Dutch club Feyenoord for a fee of €4.6 million. As his preferred number 9 jersey was taken by Danish forward Nicolai Jørgensen, Boženík had opted for number 19. He made his Eredivisie debut on 1 February 2020 in a 3–1 home victory against Emmen. Boženík scored his first goal for the club on 16 February 2020, putting Feyenoord up 3–4 in the 88th minute in the away game against PEC Zwolle to secure the three points.

Boavista
On 13 July 2022, Boženík moved to Boavista on loan with a possible buy option. He signed for the club permanently on 11 July 2023 with a three-year contract.

Boženík opened the 2023–24 season with two goals against defending champions Benfica in the opening round of the season, in a 3–2 victory. By the sixth matchday, Boženík recorded five goals in five games. This start to the season was commented on as "surprising" by Carter Phillips of Long Ball Futebol elevating his performances over those of the preferred striker from the previous season Yusupha Njie, attributing the initial success to creative wing players supportin Boženík. The club, which was expected to battle for relegation lost form in later rounds of the season and completed the campaign ranked fifteenth of eighteen. Sevilla's reported interested in Boženík during winter transfer window had failed to materialise. In his second season with Boavista, Boženík was declared Player of the Year 2023/24 by the club, scoring eleven goals of which nine were in league fixtures, and he extended his contract with the club until June 2026.

International career
On 7 June 2019, Boženík debuted for the Slovak senior squad in a friendly match against Jordan. He scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Hungary on 9 September 2019. In the third friendly match against Paraguay on 13 October 2019, Boženík came on as a substitute to Adam Nemec.

Style of play
Boženík was described as a "complete forward with a good mix of technique and physical ability", by football podcaster Carter Phillips, highlighting that while he can prove himself as a striker, he is also valuable in setting-up play. Phillips compared Boženík to Petar Musa. Meanwhile, Pedro Cadima of O Jogo spoke highly of Boženík's mobility, self-sacrifce and dedication to fulfilling defensive roles, as he has to "contribute to the equilibrium of the team", while noticing that the role of an alternate striker in his first seasons with Boavista may have caused issues with his confidence.

Club


International

 * Scores and results list Slovakia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boženík goal.

Honours
Individual
 * Peter Dubovský Award: 2019