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

Boženík began his career with Žilina, scoring 15 goals in 2018–19 which saw him join Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord in January 2020. He struggled for game time at De Kuip, and spent the 2021–22 season on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf and the 2022–23 season at Portuguese side Boavista. He joined Boavista permanently in July 2023 and then moved on to Championship side Stoke City in July 2025.

Club career MŠK Žilina 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 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.

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 -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. 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.

Stoke City Boženík joined EFL Championship side Stoke City in July 2025, signing a three-year contract. He got his first start in a 0–0 draw against Walsall in the first round of the EFL Cup, which Stoke won 4–3 on penalties. Boženík scored his first goal for Stoke City in a 1–0 league victory against Hull City, tapping in a shot from the back post after a cross from Lamine Cisse. However, Boženík was injured at the start of the second half after a hard fall on his shoulder. During the lengthy treatment, he needed oxygen and finally left the field in the 54th minute with tears in his eyes and a fixed left hand. He returned to the squad for the final few matches of the 2025–26 season.

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-sacrifice 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.

Career statistics Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsŽilina B2015–16Slovak 2. liga20———202016–17Slovak 2. liga111———1112017–18Slovak 2. liga116———1162019–20Slovak 2. liga11———11Total258———258Žilina2017–18Slovak 1. liga0021—00212018–19Slovak 1. liga321372——39152019–20Slovak 1. liga16310——173Total4816103—005819Feyenoord2019–20Eredivisie5211—00632020–21Eredivisie16100—001612021–22Eredivisie1000—5060Total22311—50284Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)2021–222. Bundesliga20210—00212Boavista (loan)2022–23Primeira Liga2341030—274Boavista2023–24Primeira Liga3182210—34102024–25Primeira Liga3351000—335Total87174240—9519Stoke City2025–26Championship2210020—2412026–27Championship600022—82Total2810042—323Career total23047166825025955

International

+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSlovakia2019842020502021912022702023812024111202570202641Total598

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

+ List of international goals scored by Róbert BoženíkNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 9 September 2019 Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary 4 2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification2 13 October 2019 Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia 6 1–0 1–1 Friendly3 16 November 2019 Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka, Croatia 7 1–0 1–3 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification4 19 November 2019 Štadión Antona Malatinského, Trnava, Slovakia 8 1–0 2–05 1 September 2021 Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia 17 1–0 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification6 19 November 2023 Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina 37 1–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2024 qualification7 9 June 2024 Štadión Antona Malatinského, Trnava, Slovakia 40 2–0 4–0 Friendly85 June 2026 Košická Futbalová Aréna, Košice, Slovakia571–02-2Friendly

Honours Individual Peter Dubovský Award: 2019

References

External links

MŠK Žilina official club profile