When forming the ratings of the best football players, European journalists and experts often bypass Russia. And sometimes our guys are excluded from ready-made lists, as in the case of Arsen Zakharyan, who was removed from his rating by the Goal portal in March. The authors removed the photo and biography of the Russian and left his 11th line empty.

Fortunately, the International Center for Sports Studies (CIES) decided not to ignore talented Russians. Recently, researchers have pleased the fans of Lokomotiv by including the pupil of the Moscow team in the top three of the strongest players in the world in his age category.

Great achievement Daniel!

Daniil lost only to colleagues from Barcelona and Chelsea

18-year-old goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov took third place in the prestigious rating. Barcelona midfielder Gavi won first place, while Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina was second. Also in the list of the best young players born in 2004 was Krylia Sovetov forward Sergey Pinyaev, he took 35th place.

Daniil Khudyakov / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Vladimir Astapkovich

The assessment given to Daniel by scientists is amazing. In CIES, in fact, the young Loko player was named the strongest goalkeeper in Europe in his age category! The fact is that the goalkeeper Slonin, who received an invitation to Chelsea this summer, today continues to play at Chicago Fire, his former club from the United States – he will move overseas only after the end of the season in MLS. Yes, and Gabriel has American citizenship, so he could get into the rating of European goalkeepers only from a club point of view.

For Khudyakov now you can only rejoice. At the age of 18, he is the first number of one of the most popular clubs in the country, and considering how Lokomotiv is storming now and what pressure the goalkeeper is under for goals conceded, his calmness is worthy of applause. The long-term leader of the “red-greens” Marinato Guilherme was injured that season, there was a feeling that the Brazilian, having recovered, would immediately return to the field. But no!

The trainee of Loko seized his chance and practically does not give any doubts to the coaching staff. For about a year, Khudyakov played at the Kazanka farm club, and now he is proving that he can do it in the Russian Premier League.

Zakharyan is in the top 5 of the ranking

By the way, the positives in the CIES publication do not end there. Where without the main newsmaker of the last days from Dynamo? Arsen Zakharyan took fourth place in the ranking of players born in 2003, losing only to world football stars – Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, Jamal Musiale from Bayern Munich and Harvey Elliott from Liverpool. Also on the list were Zenit goalkeeper Daniil Odoevsky (21st) and Lokomotiv defender Mark Mampassi (33rd).

Photo: © FC Dynamo

It’s good that the International Center for Sports Research did not ignore our guys. Many young players from Russia are really talented and have a chance to play at the highest level. No worse than the Bellinghams and Elliots! The main thing is that no one interferes with them – neither transfer nuances, nor sanctions, nor club leaders, as happened with Zakharyan.