In brief
Russia was a powerful force throughout the Soviet era and has produced some outstanding players over the years.
Among their notable players from more recent times are Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrey Arshavin, both of whom were once Premier League heroes.
Many people consider Lev Yashin to be the best goalie of all time.
Numerous of Russia’s best athletes have worked among the elite of Europe. Prior to hosting the World Cup in 2018, they achieved historical success during their Soviet era and advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship in 2008.
Russia has had a lot of contemporary moments to celebrate in recent tournaments, from Igor Akinfeev’s spectacular penalty play in the 2018 World Cup to Andrey Arshavin’s incredible solo run in the Euros. The USSR won the first-ever European Championship in France in 1960 and advanced to the World Cup semifinals in England in 1966. The top ten Russian football players of all time are listed below, taking into account their incredible talent and significant victories during the busy USSR era.
The greatest Russian athletes of all time
Rank
The player
10.
Fedotov, Grigory
9.
Arshavin, Andrey
8.
Pavlyuchenko, Roman
7.
Kerzhakov, Alexander
6.
Karpin, Valery
5.
Ivanov, Valentin
4.
Dasayev Rinat
3.
Igor Netto
2.
Shesternyov, Albert
One
Yashin Lev
10Grigory Fedotov
Career span: 1934-1949
Grigory Fedotov, the father of Vladimir, a player who holds the record for most appearances for CSKA Moscow, established football as a national sport as well as a family sport.
Despite never receiving an international cap, Fedotov senior scored 124 goals in 155 games for CSKA Moscow during the 1930s and 1940s, making him a mercurial force in the Soviet football scene. The Grigory Fedotov Club was established in 1948 when Fedotov became the first player in the Soviet league to achieve 100 goals. Since then, all players who have scored 100 goals or more in Soviet and Russian football have been granted membership.
9Andrey Arshavin
Career span: 1999-2018
Andrey Arshavin, who finished just behind the attackers in terms of talent, was Zenit’s favourite player prior to his four-year stay at Arsenal. In the end, things didn’t work out in London because the player felt alienated by the city and Arsene Wenger played him out of position, either sitting off either wing or up front exclusively.
The Russian squad, which advanced to the Euro 2008 semifinals before losing to eventual champions Spain, was led by Arshavin. He placed sixth in that year’s Ballon d’Or as a result of his performances. That would have been a great addition to his 2006 Russian Footballer of the Year honour. Arshavin’s three assists tied him with Mesut Ozil, David Silva, and Steven Gerrard for the top spot in the assisting rankings at Euro 2012.
The international career of Andrey Arshavin
Russia’s caps
75
Russia’s objectives
17
Russia helps
20
8Roman Pavlyuchenko
Career span: 1998-2022
Roman Pavlyuchenko is another outstanding offensive danger from Russia’s heyday in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Only two seasons have passed since the lanky striker’s retirement, and his durability also extended to his goalscoring heroics. He scored 179 goals in 489 league games overall, 45 of which came beyond the age of 35.
He moved to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 after scoring 69 league goals in 141 games for Spartak Moscow. Although his first adjustment was difficult because he had to learn a new language, Spurs supporters were aware of his abilities.
Pavlyucheko was a member of the Guus Hiddink team that dominated the 2008 European Championship. Before leaving Russia, Pavlyuchenko scored 21 goals in 78 Premier League appearances over his three full seasons at White Hart Lane.
Roman Pavlyuchenko’s career abroad
Russia’s caps
51
Russia’s objectives
21
Russia helps
6.
7Aleksandr Kerzhakov
Career span: 2001-2016
Prior to Soviet players taking over, Aleksandr Kerzhakov is listed as the penultimate modern great. Kerzhakov, who stood 5’9″, was a superb poacher, mostly for Zenit and the Russian national team. With 30 goals in 91 games, he leads the nation in scoring, adding to his impressive resume that includes 204 goals in 510 games with teams like Zenit, Sevilla, Dynamo Moscow, and FC Zurich.
With 233 goals in competitive matches, Kerzhakov is really the most prolific goal scorer in Russian football history. He played in two World Cups and two European Championships, and in 2014, he broke Vladimir Beschastnykh’s scoring record for the Russian national team.
Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s career abroad
Russia’s caps
91
Russia’s objectives
30
Russia helps
18
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