Alexei Bugayev was killed in action.
Former Russia national team player Alexei Bugayev, who faced off against Cristiano Ronaldo twice in the 2004 Euros, passed away in military action. The news was confirmed by his father earlier on Monday after the 43-year-old was recruited for the country's war against Ukraine.
Speaking to Sport24, his father said:
'Unfortunately, the news about Aleksei's death is true. It happened today.'
Bugayev was a centre-back who featured mainly for Russian sides including Lokomotiv Moscow and Krasnodar. He retired as a 29-year-old in 2010, making seven appearances for the national side.
He was then caught attempting to sell drugs and was sentenced to 10 years in prison back in November 2023. However, as part of Vladimir Putin's plan to employ criminals on the frontline, Bugayev joined the army and is believed to have died in action.
