Roope Riski

Roope Riski (born 16 August 1991) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Veikkausliiga club Ilves.

He is known as a clinical, well-positioned forward who can get into the right place at the right time. In the middle of the 2010 season, Riski was selected to the opening squad for the first time of his career. Since then he has enjoyed a phenomenal season, starting 12 games and scoring 11 goals. He has the best game/goal ratio in the Veikkausliiga.

Club career
On 22 September 2010, Riski scored a hat-trick against AC Oulu. By doing this, he became the first ever player in Finland to score a hat-trick in all the highest three levels of Finnish football system during one season.

From 27 January 2011 he is an official Cesena player. He made his Serie A debut on 19 March 2011 against Lazio on Stadio Olimpico (1−0 away loss) as a 69th-minute substitute for Fabio Caserta, he has had loan spell in Finland for TPS Turku in 2012 and Hønefoss BK in Norway. In August 2012, Riski joined English side Derby County on trial ahead of their pre-season against Chesterfield, where he started in a 3–1 loss, he scored in a reserve friendly against Matlock Town.

On 8 February 2016, SJK announced the signing of Riski on a two-year contract. On 10 January 2017, he was loaned to SC Paderborn.

On 21 November 2019, HJK Helsinki confirmed the signing of Riski on a contract until the end of 2021 with an option for one further year.

On 6 November 2023, it was announced that Riski had signed with Veikkausliiga club Ilves on a two-year deal, starting in 2024.

International career
On 19 January 2015, Riski made his senior debut for the Finland national team in a 1–0 friendly against Sweden, where he scored the only goal of the match.

He was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.

Personal life
He is the younger brother of Riku Riski, who plays for HJK Helsinki and the Finland national team.

International

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

Honours
SJK
 * Veikkausliiga: 2015

HJK
 * Veikkausliiga: 2020
 * Finnish Cup: 2020

Individual
 * Finnish League Cup Top goalscorer: 2016


 * Veikkausliiga Player of the Month:August 2010, June 2016, October 2020


 * Veikkausliiga Player of the Year: 2020


 * Veikkausliiga Striker of the Year: 2020


 * Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2016, 2020


 * Veikkausliiga Top score: 2016, 2020