Matvey Kislyak

Matvey Kislyak made his senior debut for CSKA Moscow on his 18th birthday. He came through the Chertanovo Education Center before joining the CSKA academy at 14, signing his first professional contract with the club in June 2022 and extending it twice, most recently through the 2027/28 season.

His breakthrough came in the 2024/25 campaign, which he capped by helping CSKA win the Russian Cup and finish as bronze medallists in the Premier League. He set a club record along the way, becoming the youngest goalscorer in CSKA's Russian Cup history at 19 years and 229 days. He won the "First Five" award for best young player, was named Match Premier's best Russian player of the RPL season, and picked up the "Best Young Sportsman of the Year" prize from RIA Novosti Sport. Transfermarkt placed him in its Team of the Season and named him the best young player of the Russian championship, while the CIES Football Observatory ranked him among the world's top five defensive midfielders aged 20 or under.

Kislyak made his senior international debut for Russia in March 2025 against Grenada and scored his first goal for the national team against Qatar that September, adding to caps already earned at under-18, under-19 and under-21 level. At club level, the Russian Super Cup and a Youth Football League title with CSKA's junior side round out his honours so far.