Vladyslav Veleten

Vladyslav Veleten came through Dynamo Kyiv's academy from 2015, and by 2019 had worked his way into the club's youth setup, where he stayed for two and a half seasons. A first-team appearance for Dynamo never came, and in 2021 he moved on to Kolos Kovalivka, where he spent four seasons and became a regular fixture, making 70 appearances and scoring six goals.

It was at Kolos, on 20 April 2025, that Veleten produced the performance that put his name in front of a wider audience. Facing Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier League, he scored once and set up three more goals. The four combined goal contributions against Shakhtar placed him in unusual company: since 2005, only three other players worldwide had managed a goal-plus-three-assists return in a single match against the Donetsk club — Cristiano Ronaldo, Alassane Pléa and Galeno. Veleten's came in a domestic league fixture.

The display did not go unnoticed. Later that year he moved to Polessya Zhytomyr, where he has made 13 appearances and scored three goals so far.

His form also opened the door to international recognition. Veleten had already featured for Ukraine's under-21 side, scoring his first goal at that level in a friendly draw with Slovenia in March 2025. In October 2025 he took the step up to the senior national team, making his debut in a win over Iceland in World Cup 2026 qualifying.