Matej Gashtarov third among U23 midfielders in Europe, CIES
CIES gives Gashtarov H1.58 and ranks him behind Feyenoord's Dzhival Zishel and PSV's Kodai Sano; coach Goce Sedloski has included him in the Red Star call-up.
Matej Gashtarov has emerged as one of North Macedonia's brightest young midfielders after a strong run of form this season. The 18 September 2026 rankings from CIES place him third among midfielders under 23 playing in Europe’s top leagues, giving extra weight to the recent call-up by national coach Goce Sedloski to the Red Star Belgrade midfielder.
CIES ranking and the numbers
CIES assigned Gashtarov a performance value of H1.58 for the most recent part of the season — enough to put him behind Dzhival Zishel of Feyenoord and Kodai Sano of PSV Eindhoven, and ahead of Kobi Maino of Manchester United. That standing highlights his statistical impact among peers in the same position and age group.
The national team staff have taken notice: Sedloski included the Red Star player in his latest selection, citing the need for quality options in the middle of the park. The call-up reflects Gashtarov’s form at club level and the broader search for midfield solutions ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
At club level Gashtarov continues to consolidate his reputation. His place in the CIES top-three list for U23 midfielders in top European competitions is a notable achievement for a player from North Macedonia and raises expectations for his role with the senior national team.
Now the question for Sedloski and the coaching staff is practical: how much playing time will Gashtarov receive in the forthcoming Nations League matches, and whether the call-up will translate into minutes that help him develop further on the international stage.
Photo: press material from the event
