Back in 1995, the Komanda newspaper launched a poll to determine the best player competing in the Ukrainian Championship. The core idea was to ensure that the selection was made by those directly involved in the game — the players and coaches of the clubs competing in Ukraine’s top division.

The year 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the poll. Recognizing the prestige and systemic importance of the poll, the Ukrainian Premier League stepped in to support its organizers. In the spring of 2025, UPL President Ievgen Dykyi presented the award to Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar) for the first time under this partnership.

Following the results of 2025, the tradition continued: 16 representatives from each UPL team were polled, each naming their top three footballers of the year in the Ukrainian Championship. Three points were awarded for a first-place vote, two for second, and one for third.

A total of 106 players were mentioned in the ballots. The winner of the poll has become the former striker for LNZ Cherkasy, Prosper Obah, who collected 273 points. He was ranked first by 73 respondents, second by 16, and third by 22. In total, 111 respondents — 44% of all participants — voted for the new Shakhtar signing.

Second place went to Zorya forward Pylyp Budkivskyi (118 points), while Kryvbas midfielder Gleyker Mendoza finished third with 78 points.

Top 20 of the 2025 Poll Ranking

We congratulate Prosper Obah on winning and thank all participants and organizers for their contribution to the poll.

Throughout the history of the Komanda poll, 21 different players have been crowned winners. The record for the most victories is shared by Serhii Rebrov, Valentyn Belkevych, and Marlos, each of whom received the honor three times.

By position, midfielders have won 20 times, forwards 10 times, and goalkeepers only once (Andrii Piatov). No defender has ever won the award. By club affiliation, Dynamo Kyiv leads with 12 winners, followed by Shakhtar Donetsk (9), Dnipro (4), Dnipro-1 (2), with Metalist and LNZ claiming one winner each.

Best Players of the Ukrainian Championship

(According to the Komanda newspaper poll, 1995–2024)

1995 — Yurii Kalitvintsev (Dynamo)
1996 — Serhii Rebrov (Dynamo)
1997 — Andrii Shevchenko (Dynamo)
1998 — Serhii Rebrov (Dynamo)
1999 — Serhii Rebrov (Dynamo)
2000 — Andrii Vorobei (Shakhtar)
2001 — Valentyn Belkevych (Dynamo)
2002 — Valentyn Belkevych (Dynamo)
2003 — Valentyn Belkevych (Dynamo)
2004 — Oleksandr Rykun (Dnipro)
2005 — Oleh Husiev (Dynamo)
2006 — Serhii Nazarenko (Dnipro)
2007 — Serhii Nazarenko (Dnipro)
2008 — Jaja (Metalist)
2009 — Artem Milevskyi (Dynamo)
2010 — Andrii Pyatov (Shakhtar)
2011 — Andrii Iarmolenko (Dynamo)
2012 — Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Shakhtar)
2013 — Yevhen Konoplyanka (Dnipro)
2014 — Andrii Iarmolenko (Dynamo)
2015 — Alex Teixeira (Shakhtar)
2016 — Marlos (Shakhtar)
2017 — Marlos (Shakhtar)
2018 — Marlos (Shakhtar)
2019 — Taison (Shakhtar)
2020 — Viktor Tsygankov (Dynamo)
2021 — Artem Dovbyk (Dnipro-1)
2022 — Artem Dovbyk (Dnipro-1)
2023 — Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar)
2024 — Heorhii Sudakov (Shakhtar)