Kazakhstan's FC Kairat Earns Spot Among Global Football Elite

Kazakhstan’s FC Kairat has strengthened its international standing after being named among the world’s top football clubs.

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has released its updated ranking of the world’s top 500 football clubs, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Almaty’s FC Kairat placed 240th with 90.75 points, remaining Kazakhstan’s sole representative on the global list. Paris Saint-Germain topped the ranking, followed by Real Madrid in second place and Chelsea in third.

Kairat’s international profile has been further boosted by goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov, who has emerged as one of the standout players in Europe. According to SofaScore’s latest ratings following the sixth round of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League main stage, Anarbekov claimed the highest overall player rating.

The Kazakh shot-stopper featured in four matches against Pafos, Copenhagen, Olympiacos and Inter, earning an impressive average score of 8.9. He finished ahead of Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé (8.34) and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen (8.33), with Bodø/Glimt’s Nikita Haikin and PSG midfielder Vitinha rounding out the top five.

Earlier reports noted that Anarbekov also secured a historic MVP award in a Champions League match, fueling speculation about a potential move to a major European club. Inter Milan is among the teams reportedly monitoring the goalkeeper’s rapid rise.