The former owner of Moscow Spartak, Zarema Salikhova, voiced strong criticism of the RFU’s ranking of the 33 best players in the Russian Championship for the 2022/23 season. The list was compiled by the Russian Football Union and shared by sports24.
She wondered aloud about the basis of the ratings. Are Cordoba and Sobolev truly comparable in strength? Is Claudinho taller than Promes? Does Barrios outrank Litvinov at fullback despite Litvinov delivering a stronger second half of the season? Could Litvinov still surpass Diveev, perhaps? Salikhova questioned which office or institution produced such a rating, jokingly naming Narodnaya, a street address, or Lakhta Center as possible offices for the ranking’s creation.
The RFU headquarters is located on Narodnaya Street in Moscow, while the Lakhta Center is a landmark building in Saint Petersburg, highlighting how the joke reflects the perception of where such determinations might come from.
According to the latest outcomes in the Russian Premier League, Zenit Saint Petersburg claimed first place, CSKA Moscow took second, and Spartak Moscow finished third. The season also crowned the country’s Cup winners among the army club’s players, underscoring the competitive landscape across the top tiers of Russian football.
Earlier, the season’s standout player and coach were named, emphasizing the recognition given to top performers across the league. The discussion around these accolades continues to fuel conversations among fans and pundits about how best to evaluate talent in Russian football today [RFU data].