Kiev: Ukraine’s Brazilian-born sensation Marlos has starred for Shakhtar Donetsk on a Champions League run that could see them reach the quarter-finals for only the second time when they go to Roma on Tuesday.

But the 29-year-old attacking midfielder’s silky dribbling is also turning him into an integral part of Ukraine’s hopes of returning to the forefront of the international scene after the country failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

The Ukrainian player of the year for two successive seasons is the engine of a flamboyant Shakhtar side that features an eye-popping eight additional Brazilians and two Argentines.

Shakhtar edged out the Italians 2-1 at home in Kharkiv in the first leg of their last-16 encounter last month, meaning they head to the Stadio Olimpico in the driving seat.

They are also on course to retain their domestic title despite being based in three different cities over the past two years due to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Shakhtar’s Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca has admitted that Marlos is “really important” to his side, describing him as “magical”.

Certainly, having a coach who speaks Portuguese helps Marlos and the Brazilians gel into an attacking unit that has flourished in the Champions League.

Shakhtar beat Manchester City at home in the group stage and won away at Dutch champions Feyenoord despite finishing that game with 10 men.

Marlos was named February’s player of the month in Ukraine after scoring four goals and laying on three assists in three matches, leaving Shakhtar sitting pretty atop the table.

“To me, team achievements are much more important,” Marlos said after receiving the award.

Marlos played for Brazilian giants Sao Paulo before coming to Ukraine in 2012 and settling in nicely.

He first voiced an interest in playing for Ukraine’s national team in 2016 as the struggling country scouted around for help.

“If this happens, it will be my gift to Ukrainians for being so welcoming,” Marlos said at the time.

That wish came true in September when he failed to make Brazil’s star-studded squad and was granted Ukrainian citizenship.

It was a decision that endeared him to Ukrainians — used to players looking for work elsewhere because of four years of armed conflict in the east and hard times all around.

“In this difficult time for Ukraine, many athletes leave, adopting the citizenship of other countries,” said Ukraine coach and former AC Milan great Andriy Shevchenko.

“But Marlos, on the contrary, tied his future to our state. It would have been foolish not to pick such a player.”

He made his debut against Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier that Ukraine won, although they missed out on a place in Russia, finishing third in their group behind Iceland and Croatia.

Marlos has found the net 40 times in 158 appearances for Shakhtar and should be an enticing option for Ukraine for years to come.

And his belief in both team and adopted country has helped Shakhtar as they look to return to the quarter-finals, where they were well beaten by eventual winners Barcelona in 2011.

“We are confident that we will be able to get the result we need in Rome,” Marlos said.