There was a time when Eastern European football didn’t get the respect it deserved. That’s changed. Countries like Georgia, Poland, Ukraine, and Croatia have produced some of the finest players of this generation.
This guide takes you through ten of the very best, including names like Lewandowski and Modrić, as well as rising stars like Kvaratskhelia, who has continued to impress.
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Who Are Currently The Best Eastern European Soccer Players?
Here are the current top ten best Eastern European soccer players:
Rank | Player | Country | Club (2025) | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Georgia | PSG | Winger |
2 | Robert Lewandowski | Poland | Barcelona | Striker |
3 | Luka Modrić | Croatia | AC Millan | Midfielder |
4 | Anatoliy Trubin | Ukraine | Benfica | Goalkeeper |
5 | Andriy Yarmolenko | Ukraine | Dynamo Kyiv | Winger/Forward |
6 | Heorhiy Sudakov | Ukraine | Shakhtar Donetsk | Attacking Midfielder |
7 | Vitaliy Mykolenko | Ukraine | Everton | Left-back |
8 | Yegor Yarmoliuk | Ukraine | Brentford | Midfielder |
9 | Sergey Pinyaev | Russia | Lokomotiv Moscow | Left Winger |
10 | Ilya Zabarnyi | Ukrainian | PSG | Defender |
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is currently one of the best Eastern European footballers. Born in Tbilisi in 2001, the electrifying left winger now wears the No. 7 shirt for Paris Saint-Germain after a record €80 million move from Napoli in January 2025.
Known for his dazzling dribbles, agility, and creativity, Kvaratskhelia has quickly become the face of Georgian football and one of Europe’s most dangerous attackers.
His impact was so fast, scoring in the Champions League final to help PSG secure their first-ever title, while also lifting Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in his debut season.
Before Paris, he was Napoli’s star, guiding them to a long-awaited Serie A crown and collecting the league’s MVP award.
Internationally, he led Georgia to its first major tournament at Euro 2024.
Robert Lewandowski – FC Barcelona (Spain)
Robert Lewandowski is one of the most consistent goal machines Europe has ever seen. After dominating at Bayern Munich, where he became a legend, Lewandowski joined FC Barcelona in 2022 for €45 million, the biggest transfer ever for a Polish player.
Since then, he has smashed records in Spain: winning La Liga, lifting the Pichichi Trophy as top scorer, and becoming only the third player to hit 100 Champions League goals.
Even past 35, he continues to score at a rate most strikers can only dream of, overtaking legends like Gerd Müller in Europe’s all-time scoring charts.
With over 100 goals for Barcelona, Lewandowski has proved that age is just a number, making him one of the best Eastern European footballers of all time and still a world-class forward in 2025.
Luka Modrić – AC Milan
Luka Modrić is, without question, one of the greatest Eastern European footballers of all time, and even in the twilight of his career.
Currently at AC Milan in Serie A, Modrić continues to showcase the qualities that made him a legend at Real Madrid and one of the most decorated midfielders in history.
In 2012, Modrić secured a move to Real Madrid for around £30 million. Though he initially struggled for playing time, his career turned dramatically after decisive performances in the Champions League knockout stages.
From there, he became indispensable, orchestrating Madrid’s midfield through an era of dominance.
- He won five Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
- Claimed the 2018 Ballon d’Or, breaking the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly.
- Won three La Liga titles and multiple domestic cups.
- Was consistently named in the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFPro World XI.
With Croatia, Modrić became a national hero. He inspired his country to the 2018 World Cup Final, where he won the tournament’s Golden Ball as best player.
He later guided Croatia to a 2022 World Cup semi-final finish.
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Anatoliy Trubin – SL Benfica
Anatoliy Trubin has become one of Eastern Europe’s most promising goalkeepers. Born in Donetsk, he rose through Shakhtar Donetsk’s academy before making his professional debut in 2019 with a clean sheet.
His performances were outstanding during the 2020–21 season, when he replaced veteran Andriy Pyatov and stunned Europe with a Champions League debut victory over Real Madrid, alongside shutouts against Inter Milan.
Fans named him Shakhtar’s Player of the Season. In 2023, after a heroic Europa League penalty shootout performance against Rennes, he moved to Benfica for €10 million.
Now adapting to Portuguese football, Trubin is steadily proving himself as a reliable shot-stopper with the potential to dominate Europe’s elite stages. At just 22, his composure, reflexes, and big-match mentality make him a standout among Eastern European soccer players today.
Andriy Yarmolenko – Dynamo Kyiv
Andriy Yarmolenko is one of Eastern Europe’s most recognized footballers, known for his flair, power, and leadership on the pitch. A product of Yunist Chernihiv, he rose through the ranks before joining Dynamo Kyiv in 2007, where he was hailed as the “new Andriy Shevchenko.”
His debut season proved his talent, scoring the winning goal in his very first league appearance. Yarmolenko’s career later took him to Borussia Dortmund and West Ham United, where he delivered memorable goals, including a dramatic winner against Chelsea in 2020.
Despite injuries, he consistently played key roles in both domestic leagues and European competitions. After a spell at Al-Ain, the Ukrainian forward returned to Dynamo Kyiv in 2023.
Heorhiy Sudakov – Shakhtar Donetsk
Heorhiy Sudakov has established himself as one of the brightest Eastern European talents.
A product of Shakhtar Donetsk’s famed academy, he broke into the first team during the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League, making headlines with his debut against Real Madrid.
Since then, Sudakov has developed into a key midfielder, combining vision, technical skill, and composure.
By 2023, he netted his first Champions League goal against Barcelona and helped secure Shakhtar’s 15th Ukrainian Premier League title in 2024 with a decisive penalty against Dynamo Kyiv.
His commitment to the club is clear, having extended his contract until 2028.
On the international level, Sudakov debuted for Ukraine in 2021 and earned call-ups for both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
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Vitaliy Mykolenko – Everton (England)
Vitaliy Mykolenko is currently one of Eastern Europe’s finest defenders. Born in Cherkasy, Ukraine, he rose through Dynamo Kyiv’s youth academy before making his senior debut in 2017.
His rapid development earned him recognition as the Best Young Player in the Ukrainian Premier League for the 2018–19 season. In January 2022, Mykolenko signed with Everton in the English Premier League, where he has since become a reliable left-back.
Just months after joining, he showed remarkable composure and leadership when captaining Everton in the FA Cup amidst the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Interesting, you need to see his thunderous 25-yard volley against Leicester City.
Yegor Yarmoliuk – Brentford (England)
Yegor Yarmoliuk is currently one of Eastern Europe’s brightest footballing talents. The Ukrainian midfielder joined Brentford in July 2022 for €1.6 million, beginning with the B team before earning his senior debut in the EFL Cup later that year.
Despite a hamstring injury cutting short his first season, he bounced back in 2023–24, making 30 appearances and earning recognition in Ukraine’s Golden Talent U19 category.
By 2024–25, Yarmoliuk had firmly established himself in the Premier League, featuring in 35 matches and signing a long-term six-year deal in May 2025. His energy, vision, and composure under pressure have made him a reliable option in Brentford’s midfield.
Sergey Pinyaev – Lokomotiv Moscow
Sergey Pinyaev is considered one of the brightest young stars in Eastern European football.
At 15, he became the youngest player to ever score in Russia’s second division before making his Russian Premier League debut for Krylia Sovetov in 2021.
By 17, he was already among the league’s youngest-ever goal scorers. After overcoming a serious health scare in 2022, Pinyaev signed with Lokomotiv Moscow.
Internationally, he is the youngest player to represent Russia and later became their youngest-ever goalscorer at only 18.
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Ilya Zabarnyi – PSG
Ilya Zabarnyi is one of Eastern Europe’s most exciting defenders, a product of Dynamo Kyiv’s youth system, who came through the ranks before making his senior debut in 2020.
His talent soon carried him abroad, signing for AFC Bournemouth in January 2023, where he proved himself in the Premier League and even scored a decisive goal against Luton Town in 2024.
After extending his contract, he made history in August 2025 by joining Paris Saint-Germain, becoming the French giants’ first-ever Ukrainian player. Zabarnyi has been equally impressive at the international level, helping Ukraine reach the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 2020.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.