Top Performers of the 2025/26 Ukrainian Premier League Season
Gleiker Mendoza, a winger for Kryvbas, has been awarded the Ukrainian Premier League's Player of the Season for 2025/26. During his time with Kryvbas, the Venezuelan recorded 11 goals and 11 assists across 28 league matches. In the spring segment of the campaign, he signed with Shakhtar Donetsk, becoming only the fifth foreign-born player to receive this top UPL honor—and the first from Venezuela to achieve the milestone.
Award Categories and Achievements
The Goalkeeper of the Season award went to Dmytro Riznyk. He featured in 24 Ukrainian league games, keeping clean sheets in 16 of them. Riznyk also played 16 European matches, with seven shutouts, helping Shakhtar reach the Conference League semifinals. Second place in the goalkeeping rankings went to Nazar Domchak of Karpaty, while third was claimed by Oleksiy Palamarchuk of LNZ, who set a season record with 17 clean sheets.
Dynamo Kyiv's Matviy Ponomarenko was named the UPL's Best Young Player. His performances have drawn attention for their high quality. In the overall Player of the Season standings, Mendoza topped the list with 16 points. Ponomarenko earned 11 points, sharing second and third places with three players on 8 points each: Shakhtar's Alisson and Mykola Matviyenko, and Dynamo's Andriy Yarmolenko.
The 2025/26 season marked a notable chapter for Ukrainian football, highlighted by the standout contributions of both foreign talents and emerging local stars.
These results underscore the growing competitiveness of Ukrainian clubs on the international stage, as well as the nation's potential for developing young players. The recognition of Mendoza, Riznyk, and Ponomarenko highlights the value of investing in youth and attracting international footballers—factors that can further raise the quality of play in the Ukrainian Premier League.
The achievements of players like Gleiker Mendoza are part of a broader narrative in the Ukrainian Premier League, where talent shines across various positions. For instance, Riznyk's recognition as the best goalkeeper and Ponomarenko's title as the best young player further emphasize the league's competitive spirit and its ability to nurture both established and emerging stars.