Young Players: Who stepped up on Matchday 6?
MLS's rising stars were on full display again in Matchday 6, which included a first-time goal-scorer and several heroic defensive efforts.
Player Details
Name
Artem SmoliakovHeight
5' 11"Date of Birth
5.29.2003 (22)Birthplace
Baranivka, UkrainePosition
DefenderRoster Category
SeniorPlayer Category
International, U22 Initiative
Career Summary
2025 (LAFC) Â
left back tallied one goal and four assists in 32 matches across all competitions, including 26 appearances (13 starts) in MLS regular season Â
his 64th-minute assist in transition in Leagues Cup match vs. Tigres on 8/5/25 led to David MartÃnez’s matchwinning goal in 2-1 victoryÂ
all three MLS regular-season assists were goals by Son Heung-MinÂ
made an eye-popping 13 key passes in only 1,125 regular-season minutes in 2025 (key passes directly create a shot on goal for a teammate)
2021-2024 (Ukrainian Premier League) Â
made more than 40 appearances for Polissya Zhytomyr of Ukrainian Premier League in 2023-2024 across all competitions, including domestic cup and UEFA Cup qualifying matchesÂ
emerged from the youth ranks of FC Dnipro before turning pro with FC Inhulets Petrove and making his debut against Ukrainian power Shakhtar Donetsk in 2021Â
made more than 30 appearances for Inhulets, scoring two goals
INTERNATIONAL (Ukraine)   Â
earned his first cap with Ukraine’s U-21 team in 2023 and has made more than 10 appearances for his country at the U-21 levelÂ
helped Ukraine qualify for 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he featured in 2-0 win over Finland 6/15/25
SOCIAL MEDIA   Â
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Instagram:Â a.smolyakov\_10