Valery Karpin, the head coach of the Russian national football team, has shared his picks for the best footballers from Russia and the world. According to Karpin, Monaco midfielder Alexander Golovin is the top player for Russia, while Argentina’s Lionel Messi holds the global title.
In an interview with Nadezhda Strelets, Karpin was asked whether Golovin could be considered Russia’s number one footballer. “To put it simply, yes,” Karpin replied. “In terms of skill, Golovin is probably the best, or at least one of the two or three best players in the national team.”
Karpin highlighted Golovin’s ability to think and act “a split second faster than everyone else,” adding that the player is a true team player. As for the world’s best, Karpin named Lionel Messi, saying, “Before Messi, only Maradona and Pele were on that level. Players like Ronaldo have appeared in every era.”
Golovin has made 52 appearances for Russia, scoring nine goals. He has been included in the squad for upcoming friendlies against Egypt (May 28), Burkina Faso (June 5), and Trinidad and Tobago (June 9). In March, Russia played two friendly matches, defeating Nicaragua 3-1 and drawing 0-0 with Mali. Golovin scored against Nicaragua and captained the team in the match against Mali.
The 29-year-old has been with Monaco since 2018. This season, he has played 45 matches across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing six assists. Due to UEFA and FIFA suspensions, Russia has only played friendlies since 2022, with Karpin taking over as head coach in 2021.