"Best XI - 2025": symbolic team determined
The All-Ukrainian Association of Professional Footballers has announced the results of the annual "BEST XI" vote. The symbolic team was traditionally determined directly by professional footballers.
The "BEST XI" project is part of the "Football Stars of Ukraine" ceremony, initiated in 2016 by the All-Ukrainian Association of Professional Footballers following the example of FIFPRO / FIFA WORLD XI.
The uniqueness of the project lies in the fact that the winners are determined exclusively by professional footballers. Representatives of the AUPF conduct individual surveys throughout the season directly in the professional football teams of Ukraine. This format allows the participants of the football process to evaluate the performances of their colleagues and determine those who, in their opinion, were the best throughout the year. Only players performing in Ukraine, i.e. in the UPL and PFL, can be nominated.
The format of the symbolic team involves determining the best players by position: goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
So, based on the voting results, the male symbolic team "BEST XI - 2025" includes:
Goalkeeper: Dmytro Riznyk
Defenders: Mykola Matviyenko, Taras Mykhavko, Yuhym Konoplia
Midfielders: Ivan Kalyuzhnyi, Mykola Shaparenko, Georgiy Sudakov, Vitaliy Buyalskyi
Forwards: Vladyslav Vanat, Andriy Yarmolenko, Oleksiy Hutsulyak
These 11 players received the most votes from their colleagues based on their performances in 2025.
The "BEST XI" project is of special importance to footballers because it is not an evaluation by a jury or expert group. It is recognition from professionals to professionals - people who are on the football field every day, understand the demands of professional sports, and can best assess the skill, consistency, and contribution of their colleagues to the game.
An additional aspect of the project is women's football. It is worth noting that the results of the voting among female players were already presented during the "Women in Football" forum, which took place on July 30, 2026, at the House of Football of the UAF. Conducting a separate vote and determining the women's symbolic team is also an important component of promoting and supporting the development of women's football in Ukraine.
The "BEST XI" is one of the projects that unite the Ukrainian football community and give footballers themselves the opportunity to recognize the best among their colleagues. Despite the challenging conditions in which Ukrainian football continues to develop, professional players maintain the tradition of acknowledging skill, professionalism, and sporting achievements.
The "Football Stars of Ukraine" and "BEST XI" remain important platforms for promoting Ukrainian football and motivating a new generation of players who aspire to be among the best in the future.
Congratulations to the footballers who made it to the "BEST XI - 2025" team, and thank you to all the professional players who participated in the voting!
