UPL Goalkeeper of the Season 2025/26 Announced
Dmytro Riznyk has been recognized as the top goalkeeper in the Ukrainian Premier League for the 2025/26 season. Over the campaign, he appeared in 24 league matches, keeping a clean sheet in 16 of them. In European competition, Riznyk featured in 16 games and recorded 7 shutouts, helping Shakhtar Donetsk reach the Conference League semifinals. This award highlights his crucial role in Shakhtar's deep European run.
Finishing second among goalkeepers was 19-year-old Nazar Domchak of Karpaty. He played 27 matches, conceding 27 goals, but impressively kept 14 clean sheets—a league record for the 2025/26 season. Third place went to Oleksiy Palamarchuk of LNZ, who posted 17 games without conceding. The top five was rounded out by Yevhen Volynets (Polissya) and Ruslan Neshcheret (Dynamo).
Rising Stars in the UPL
In the young player category, Matviy Ponomarenko of Dynamo Kyiv was voted the UPL's best young footballer. He received first-place votes from 14 clubs, while Nazar Domchak earned top nods from two clubs and second-place votes from six others. Ponomarenko scored 13 goals in 15 league appearances this season, and added 8 goals in the U-19 National League during the first half of the campaign.
The 2025/26 UPL season showcased outstanding performances from both goalkeepers and emerging talents, highlighting the depth and potential in Ukrainian football. Riznyk's award underscores his importance to Shakhtar, while the success of young players like Ponomarenko signals a bright future for the national team and encourages clubs to invest in youth development.
In addition to Riznyk's impressive achievement, the UPL has also celebrated the remarkable talents of young players this season. Notably, Ponomarenko's recognition as the best young player highlights the emerging stars in Ukrainian football, reflecting a promising future for the league and its teams. His goal-scoring prowess and contributions to Dynamo Kyiv further emphasize the importance of nurturing young talent in the sport.