Young goalkeepers Anarbekov and Kalmurza on a breakout year and European dreams

Kazakhstan is part of the UEFA Champions League conversation this season. At the heart of that rise are FC Kairat Almaty’s goalkeepers, Temirlan Anarbekov and Sherkhan Kalmurza, who delivered standout performances during the 2025–26 campaign.

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Their series of breakthrough saves drew attention from European analysts and football institutions.

National hero

Anarbekov, who also represents Kazakhstan’s national team, was ranked by UEFA as one of the top three goalkeepers for the number of saves in the main round.

Earlier in the Champions League season, Anarbekov earned a perfect 10.0 rating for his performance against Pafos.

In the match against Olympiacos, he made eight saves, conceding just once, and earned a 9.2 rating from Sofascore. UEFA highlighted his “incredible goalkeeping” on their social media channel, while Inter Milan featured two of his “amazing saves” during their clash with Kairat.

Following the Olympiacos match, Anarbekov was named UEFA’s MVP (Most Valuable Player). Yet for him, this personal accolade ranked below winning the Kazakh Supercup in 2025.

"Winning the championship was my first major achievement," Anarbekov said. "The second was receiving the Best Player award in the UEFA Champions League. Then I made the top three cut and then also a penalty shootout against Celtic."

Turkish scout Ali Amre highlighted Anarbekov’s potential, suggesting he could even replace Fenerbahce’s İrfan Can Eğribayat. He added, “If Anarbekov were Brazilian, his value would reach 10–15 million euros.” Last year, Transfermarkt valued him at €400,000.

Eyes on Europe

Kairat’s management has said they would consider letting Anarbekov leave if strong European clubs made an offer. The goalkeeper himself is aiming for the English Premier League.

"When I played against Arsenal, that’s when I really felt it," he said. "Football there is on a completely different level — the mentality is different, the way they play."

Kalmurza is also targeting La Liga, with Barcelona as his dream club.

"I want to take Kairat to a bigger stage first. Only after that do I want to move to Europe and challenge myself in other leagues," the 18-year-old said.

Support on and off the pitch

Anarbekov missed a key Champions League match against Real Madrid due to a jaw injury in a Kazakh Premier League game against Aktobe. Kalmurza stepped in as the reserve goalie and frequently visited his senior at the hospital.

"Every kid dreams of playing against Real Madrid. It’s a childhood dream," Anarbekov said. "Of course, I felt some sadness. But I had no regrets — that’s football."

"When they said Kalmurza would play, I was very happy," Anarbekov added. "As the older one, I gave him advice: don’t be afraid. There was no pressure; you are still young."

Kalmurza reflected on being thrust into the spotlight at just 18.

"The bench toughens you. You must always be ready," he said. "To suddenly reach this level in Kazakhstan is a huge shock for anyone."

Sherkhan Kalmurza is one of the youngest goalkeepers in Champions League history. He is Kairat’s third-choice keeper and stepped into the starting lineup after injuries to Alexander Zarutsky and Temirlan Anarbekov.

18-year-old star

Kalmurza made history himself, with UEFA ranking his save against Sporting Lisbon in the first round among the top five. In the fifth minute, he denied Pedro Gonçalves with a foot save after a one-on-one break and later saved a penalty from Sporting captain Morten Hjulmann.

"To stop a penalty in Portugal, in Lisbon, at their stadium, I was very proud of myself," Kalmurza said. "I also came to the rescue a few times."

He later delivered an impressive save against Mbappé in Almaty, earning a UEFA top-5 mention.

"When Mbappé took the shot, I felt no fear. I was simply trying to save every ball. Even during his run-up, I already knew where the ball would go," he said.

Despite a 0–5 defeat, fans were impressed with the young goalie’s bravery, affectionately nicknaming him “M-boppe” or “M-baby.”

How it all started

Both Anarbekov and Kalmurza initially wanted to play as defenders. Standing just under 1.90 m, coaches preferred them in goal.

"There was no goalkeeper in FC Atyrau at the time. My height suited the position, and I had a good jump," Anarbekov recalled. "That’s how I ended up in goal."

Early on, Anarbekov saw football more as a hobby than a career. Kalmurza, meanwhile, overcame long commutes and fatigue as a child, traveling three buses to reach training in Astana.

Support system

Both goalkeepers are role models in Kazakhstan. Neighborhood kids imitate them during street football. Coaches and family support played a key role in their development.

Anarbekov credits coach Ilya Sergeyevich Yurov for teaching him to enjoy the game rather than focus only on winning.

"He said take pleasure in every instruction, every conversation, in how you move. Enjoy everything," Anarbekov said.

"Ilya Sergeyevich instilled in me a strong belief," Kalmurza added. "He taught me there would be something to celebrate after the game if I showed myself in the best light. And that’s exactly what happened."

Kalmurza’s grandparents and mother remain his toughest supporters, encouraging him to pursue his dreams on the pitch.

With their eyes on Europe’s top leagues, Anarbekov and Kalmurza continue to inspire the next generation of goalkeepers while chasing new milestones on the international stage.