Vasilije Kostov
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 May 2008 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, Serbia | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Red Star Belgrade | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014–2015 | ŠF Royal FC | ||
| 2015–2025 | Red Star Belgrade | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Red Star Belgrade | 28 | (10) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Serbia U15 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Serbia U16 | 3 | (3) |
| 2024 | Serbia U17 | 9 | (5) |
| 2024– | Serbia U19 | 9 | (1) |
| 2025– | Serbia | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 March 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025 | |||
Vasilije Kostov (Serbian Cyrillic: Василије Костов, born 11 May 2008) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Red Star Belgrade and the Serbia national team.[2]
Early life
Kostov first played football for ŠF Royal FC, and arrived at the Red Star Belgrade youth school at the age of just seven and went through all the younger categories.[3][4] Kostov also stood out for his phenomenal shot from distance, scoring a goal in the youth eternal derby against Partizan, which ended in a victory for Red Star.[5] Despite being one of the youngest footballers on the field, Kostov took on the responsibility and with a goal from the penalty spot, an attractive panenka.[6] On 14 November 2024, Kostov extended his contract with Red Star until 2027.[7]
Club career
Red Star Belgrade
On 3 January 2025, Kostov was promoted to the first team from Red Star Belgrade U19 team.[8] On 16 January, Kostov made his debut for the first team in a friendly match in Antalya against OFK Beograd.[9] On 26 February, Kostov was first included in the club's main team's roster for the Serbian SuperLiga match against Železničar Pančevo, but did not play.[10] On 6 April, Kostov made his debut in the Serbian SuperLiga championship, coming on as a substitute in the match against OFK Beograd.[11][12] On 2 October, Kostov scored his first UEFA Europa League goal at the age of 17 years, 4 months and 21 days in the league phase match against Porto – becoming the youngest scorer in the European competition of Red Star.[13] On 31 October, Kostov extended his contract with Red Star until 2028.[14]
On 22 February 2026, Kostov scored his first goal in the Eternal derby at the age of 17 years, 9 months and 11 days in the Serbian SuperLiga match against Partizan Belgrade – becoming the youngest scorer in the Eternal derby.[15]
International career
On 11 October 2025, Kostov made his debut for the Serbia national team at the age of 17 years and 5 months in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group K match against Albania.[16]
Personal life
On 14 October 2025, Kostov was named for The Guardian's Next Generation 2025.[17]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 26 February 2026
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Red Star Belgrade | 2024–25 | Serbian SuperLiga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025–26 | Serbian SuperLiga | 21 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7[a] | 0 | — | 29 | 9 | ||
| Career total | 24 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 9 | ||
- ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played 14 October 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
Honours
Individual
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024[18]
References
- ^ Василије Костов [Vasilije Kostov]. Red Star Belgrade (in Serbian). Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- ^ "Vasilije Kostov". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
- ^ Radonić, Aleksandar (7 January 2026). ""Slaviti Božić daleko od porodice i kuće nije lako" | Veliki intervju sa najvećim biserom srpskog fudbala". Kurir. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ^ "Fabrika talenata na Marakani: Sledeća afirmacija - Vasilije Kostov". Telegraf (in Serbian). 18 March 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Jedan od najvećih Zvezdinih bisera srušio Partizan golom u 92. minutu: Zbog ovoga će promeniti i selekciju". telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 3 January 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Panenka: Sjajan gol Zvezdinog klinca protiv Barse (Video)". sportklub.n1info.rs. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ Василије Костов продужио уговор до 2027. године. Red Star Belgrade (in Serbian). 14 November 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ Звезда почела зимске припреме. Red Star Belgrade (in Serbian). 3 January 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ Црвена звезда - ОФК Београд 3:3 (3:1). Red Star Belgrade (in Serbian). 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Železničar Pančevo vs. Red Star Belgrade". Soccerway. 26 February 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Црвена звезда - ОФК Београд 3:1 (3:0) (in Serbian). 6 April 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
- ^ "Red Star Belgrade vs. OFK Beograd". Soccerway. 6 April 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Василије Костов најмлађи Звездин стрелац у Европи". Red Star Belgrade. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Костов продужио уговор до 2028. године". Red Star Belgrade. 31 October 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Костов најмлађи стрелац у историји вечитих дербија". Red Star Belgrade. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Serbia-Albania". UEFA. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Next Generation 2025: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.