Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, Paris Saint-Germain, has gained the trust of everyone in the French club, and his numbers in his second season are the best evidence of that.
Safonov has participated with Saint-Germain this season so far in 23 matches in all tournaments, spread over 2,100 minutes, which can be increased, compared to 17 matches and 1,508 minutes last season (2024-2025), according to data from the famous Transfermarkt website.
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Safonov consolidated his position in the ranks of Saint-Germain thanks to his decisive saves that contributed to the team winning many titles, noting that he has a unique story that combines football talent and intellectual upbringing that made him a model different from the stereotypical image of football players.
Humble beginning
Safonov was born on February 25, 1999 in the Russian city of Krasnodar, into a sports family, as his father works as a basketball coach, and he is the eldest of 3 brothers, the youngest of whom is also a goalkeeper.
Safonov began his football career at the age of 12 by joining the Krasnodar Academy, and progressed through the junior teams to reach the first team in 2019, before joining Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 in a deal amounting to 20 million euros (about 21.6 million dollars).
Krasnodar officials view Safonov’s story as a source of inspiration for new generations, as Aram Fundoukyan, director of the Russian club’s academy, considered that his move to Paris Saint-Germain represented a historic moment for everyone.
An inspiration
“When Safonov moved to Paris Saint-Germain, I said this was the happiest day for our academy,” Fondokyan told the British website The Athletic.
He added, “I started talking to all our boys and girls and telling them that even if you are from a small city like Krasnodar in Russia, there is no limit to your ambitions. You can achieve anything.”
He continued, “We have his shirt and pictures in the corridors of the academy. I tell them, look at Safonov, this is where you can reach.”
Passion for chess and mathematics
Since childhood, Safonov was distinguished by his leadership personality and maturity beyond his years, as he was the captain of most of the teams he played for and was a reference for his teammates in the locker room thanks to his careful analysis of events, to the point that his coaches described him as a “natural leader.”
Sergei Matveev, former coach of the first team in Krasnodar, said about Safonov, “He always left a good impression. He was a leader in the locker room and gave the team confidence and vitality.”
Safonov also had a unique and distinctive mentality. His amazing abilities extend outside the field as he is a person passionate about mathematics. He spends long times solving equations and mental puzzles, in addition to other interests in chess and board games.
Chess was not just a hobby, but rather part of the training program at the Krasnodar Academy, in which Safonov outperformed everyone, including the club president.
This intellectual background was reflected in his playing style, especially in reading opponents and thus making quick decisions, which are important and decisive traits in the goalkeeping position.
A journey full of challenges
Safonov did not easily reserve his position in Saint-Germain’s starting lineup. When he joined the Parisian giant in 2024, he found himself as a reserve for Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma, before his circumstances gradually changed.
It is noteworthy that Safonov’s move to Paris coincided with the continuing repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which led to the exclusion of Russian teams and national teams from international tournaments, and at the same time his presence added additional sensitivity to the atmosphere within the team, which also includes Ukrainian defender Ilya Zabarny.
On the professional level, Safonov went through difficult psychological circumstances after a fatal mistake against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, as he failed to handle a corner kick from which the Bavarian giant scored the winning goal (1-0), in November 2024.
That shot caused Safonov to decline in coach Luis Enrique’s options, but the Russian goalkeeper later showed a strong personality capable of overcoming failures.
The turning point in the Russian goalkeeper’s career came during the 2025 Intercontinental Cup final, against the Brazilian Flamengo. Despite suffering a broken hand during the match, he was able to save 4 consecutive penalty kicks that won the title to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Athletic website commented, “This reflects Safonov’s mental toughness and his ability to focus under pressure. This match was the real starting point for him as a first-choice goalkeeper.”
Currently, Safonov has better numbers than his French colleague Lucas Chevalier, as the former’s save percentage is higher than the latter (71.2% vs. 64.1%), and he also achieves a better goal prevention rate (+0.77 vs. -1.33), according to the same site.
Safonov has great abilities in terms of exiting his goal and dealing with crosses twice as much as Chevalier does, which is an additional strength in his playing style.
Scientific analysis of penalty kicks
Safonov is known for his scientific approach to penalty kicks, as he relies on studying players’ previous shots and analyzing their behavior and body language before execution. He confirms that he can determine the direction of the ball through facial expressions or the way he approaches the ball.
“I make my decisions based on what I know about the player’s previous shots,” Safonov said. “As soon as I see the player approaching the ball, I have decided what I will do. I can also determine the direction of the shot from the player’s facial expressions or behavior.”
However, his former coaches believe that Safonov is still developing, and that his mentality and talent qualify him to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the coming years.
Adapting to Paris
On a personal level, Safonov succeeded in adapting to life in Paris, where he quickly learned the French language and settled in with his family. He spends his free time in cultural activities such as visiting exhibitions and parties, in addition to his mental hobbies such as board games and crossword puzzles.
His wife, Marina Kondratyuk, said, “We can say that we have reached a stage where we feel truly settled. We have formed a social circle and understood French culture more deeply, and we feel at home here.”
Safonov numbers with Paris
Since his move to Paris Saint-Germain, Safonov has played 40 matches in all tournaments, during which he conceded 37 times and kept them clean in 15 matches, according to data from the Transfermarkt website. He won 7 titles with the team, most notably the French League (1) and the European Champions League (1).
The Parisian giant is counting on Safonov’s abilities to overcome Bayern Munich’s obstacle when the two teams meet next Wednesday in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
Safonov conceded 4 times in the first leg, which Paris Saint-Germain won 5-4, and despite that, he made many decisive saves that contributed to his team’s victory in a match described as legendary.
