On the eve of the new season, Real Madrid played their final friendly match, demonstrating the power and depth of their squad. The match against German side Schalke ended in a convincing 3:0 victory for the Spanish team. However, the main event of the match was not just the result, but the debut of 19-year-old Ukrainian goalkeeper Ilya Voloshyn for the main "Los Blancos" team.
Unique Goalkeeper Rotation
The coaching staff of Real Madrid decided to use three goalkeepers in the match, which is a rare occurrence even for friendly games. In the first half, the Belgian Thibaut Courtois stood in the Madrid goal, ensuring reliability at the start of the match. After the break, he was replaced by Andriy Lunin, who spent more than 40 minutes on the field, made three saves, and kept his goal intact.
In the 87th minute, a historic moment occurred: Lunin gave way to the young Ukrainian Ilya Voloshyn. For the 19-year-old goalkeeper, this was his first official appearance for the senior Real Madrid team. In the allotted time, he helped Madrid secure the victory and ended his debut with a "clean sheet," which was an excellent start for his career in the main team.
The Path to Success: From Dnipro to Madrid
Ilya Voloshyn was born on January 15, 2007, in Novomoskovsk (now Samar) in the Dnipropetrovsk region. His football journey began in the youth club "Inter" and the Sports College of Dnipro. In 2022, he moved to Spain, where he went through the academies of several local clubs before joining Real Madrid from the Rayo Majadahonda academy in the winter of 2024.
Voloshyn's height is 202 cm, making him the tallest player in the Madrid squad. Last season, he played for Real Madrid's youth team (U-19), with whom he won the UEFA Youth League and the Spanish Champions Cup. These achievements confirmed the goalkeeper's potential and strengthened the club's confidence in his future.
Prospects and Plans of Real Madrid
The Madrid club is counting on Voloshyn in the long term. Previously, Real Madrid extended the contract with the Ukrainian until the summer of 2029, which indicates a serious interest in his development. Voloshyn is also a player for the Ukrainian youth national teams, playing for the U-16, U-17, and U-20 teams. His progress in the academy and successful debut in the first team open up wide opportunities for his growth.
Contradictory Data
Some sources mention that Voloshyn was born in 2007, while other materials state that he is 19 years old at the time of his debut in August 2026. This creates a slight discrepancy in dates, as in 2026 he should be 19 years old, which corresponds to his age. Nevertheless, most sources agree that Voloshyn was born in 2007, which is confirmed by his official data in the club.
It is also worth noting that some publications mention that Voloshyn debuted in a match against Schalke, while other sources indicate that this was his first appearance for the senior Real Madrid team. This may be due to differences in terminology: a debut in a friendly match and a debut in an official match may be interpreted differently.
Match Results and Season Prospects
The victory over Schalke was an excellent conclusion to the pre-season preparation for Real Madrid. The goals for Madrid were scored by Kylian Mbappé, Dean Huijsen, and Carlos Espejo, demonstrating the power of the team's attack. Voloshyn's debut became an additional reason for optimism, as he showed himself to be a promising goalkeeper capable of strengthening the "Los Blancos" goalkeeping line.
In the new season, Real Madrid will fight for titles in La Liga and the Champions League, and the presence of talents like Voloshyn can become a key factor for success. Jose Mourinho's team is ready for new challenges, and the debut of the young Ukrainian became an important step in this direction.
