Matvey Safonov

Krasnodar

2017–2021

Safonov made his debut in the Russian Premier League for Krasnodar on 13 August 2017 in a game against Amkar Perm. He became a regular member of Krasnodar's first team during the second half of the 2018–19 season, when the club finished third in the league. At the end of 2019, Safonov and his teammate Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov shared the national award "First Five", given to the best young player in the Russian Premier League.

In the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League play-off round, Safonov helped Krasnodar reach the competition's group stage for the first time. In the first leg against PAOK on 22 September 2020, he saved an early penalty from Dimitrios Pelkas as Krasnodar won 2–1. Krasnodar won the return leg by the same score on 30 September, securing a group stage promotion. On 20 October 2020, he was named the man of the match in Krasnodar's 1–1 draw with Rennes. By 2021, Safonov was also wearing the captain's armband for Krasnodar. After the 2020–21 season, he won the Lev Yashin Goalkeeper of the Year award in Russia for the first time. Krasnodar finished third in their Champions League group, qualifying for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League play-off round. Despite this European run, the 2020–21 season proved difficult domestically, as Krasnodar dropped to tenth place in the league with Safonov conceding 33 goals in 21 matches.

2021–2024

The 2021–22 season was marked by the departure of many foreign players from the club…

On 9 October 2020, Safonov was called up to Russia national team for the first time for UEFA Nations League games against Turkey and Hungary. On 11 May 2021, he was included in the preliminary extended 30-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020. He debuted on 1 June in a friendly match against Poland, and next day, he was included in the final squad for the Euros. On 16 June, he played in Russia's second group game against Finland, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory. He played again on 21 June in the last group game: a 1–4 defeat to Denmark.

In February 2026, Safonov's manager at Paris Saint-Germain, Luis Enrique, stated: "He can play with his feet, which we like. He's courageous and physically very strong. The way we defend, I think, we leave a lot of space for our opponents, and that creates a real danger. But I think he's perfectly suited to our approach." Safonov has also been acclaimed for his proficiency in saving penalties. In the 2025–26 season, Safonov became recognised for deliberately kicking the ball out of play from a goal kick so that PSG could instigate their pressing system.

Safonov was born in Stavropol. His father, Yevgeny Safonov, was a basketball player and later worked as a youth coach at Lokomotiv Kuban, while his mother, Lidiya, was not involved in professional sport. His family lived in several cities, including Maykop and Volgograd, before settling in Krasnodar by the time Safonov attended kindergarten and school. As a child, Safonov initially practised swimming, taekwondo, and basketball, also showing aptitude in mathematics and chess. Aged 12, he participated in the Mathematical Kangaroo competition, placing second in his school. He joined a football section while at school and was placed in goal during his first trial. In the seventh grade, he entered the FC Krasnodar academy and moved into its boarding school system. In 2017, he enrolled at Kuban State University, where he studied pedagogy, psychology and communication, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2021. From 2020 to 2021, he was married to Anastasia Kazachek, with whom he had been in a relationship since 2014. In June 2021, the couple had a daughter, Maya. Following the child's birth, the couple separated. In 2024, the court ordered Safonov to pay alimony equal to a quarter of his income and repay his debt. Since the beginning of 2022, he has been in a relationship with stand-up comedian Marina Kondratyuk. They got married in March 2025.