Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria ranks 58th among football exporters, CIES report shows

Kiril Despodov, a Bulgarian footballer, has been playing for the Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki since 2023.
Photo: BTA

Bulgaria ranks 58th globally in the export of football players currently playing abroad, according to a report by the Football Observatory (CIES), based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. At present, 123 Bulgarian footballers are playing outside the country, with the data covering the last six years — from 2020 to 2025.


There has been an upward trend for Bulgaria, with 18 more players abroad compared to the previous period. This increase is partly due to the recent transfers of many young Bulgarian talents, according to sports website Sportal.bg.


Brazil is the undisputed leader in this ranking, having sent 3,020 players abroad over the past six years.



Editor: Miglena Ivanova
Posted and translated by E. Radkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Cyclists prepare for the 72nd International Cycling Tour of Bulgaria

The 72nd International Cycling Tour of Bulgaria will start on August 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the Black Sea resort town of Primorsko. The final is on September 4 in Sliven. The event, organized by the Bulgarian Cycling Federation once again..

published on 8/26/25 5:55 AM

Stiliana Nikolova wins five medals at the 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro

Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast Stiliana Nikolova won a total of five medals at the 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro . In addition to the silver medals at the the individual all-around and the team competition, she also won..

published on 8/25/25 9:36 AM

New athletics track accessible to citizens opens in Bulgaria's Stara Zagora

A special ceremony was held in Bulgaria's Stara Zagora to open the new training athletics track above the Beroe stadium . The project is worth just over 1.3 million leva. After the renovation, the condition of the track meets the requirements of the..

published on 8/22/25 6:10 PM