Kristiyan Balov

Kristiyan Balov
Personal information
Full name Kristiyan Teodorov Balov
Date of birth (2006-07-26) 26 July 2006
Place of birth Sofia, Bulgaria
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Red Star Belgrade
Number 8
Youth career
2012–2024 Slavia Sofia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Slavia Sofia II 44 (8)
2023–2026 Slavia Sofia 52 (5)
2026– Red Star Belgrade 1 (1)
International career‡
2022 Bulgaria U17 5 (2)
2023 Bulgaria U18 1 (0)
2023 Bulgaria U19 2 (0)
2024– Bulgaria U21 7 (0)
2026– Bulgaria 1 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 August 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2026

Kristiyan Teodorov Balov (Bulgarian: Кристиян Теодоров Балов; born 26 July 2006) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Serbian SuperLiga club Red Star Belgrade and the Bulgaria national team.[2]

Career

Slavia Sofia

Balov joined Slavia Sofia at the age of six and progressed through the club's youth ranks. He made his first-team debut on 27 May 2024, from the substitute's bench, against CSKA 1948 in the final game of 2023–24 season.

Balov scored his first goal in a 2–1 away loss against Dobrudzha Dobrich on 28 July 2025.[3] On 25 August, he scored against Arda Kardzhali in a man-of-the-match performance to guide Slavia to a 2–0 home victory.[4] On 30 August, Balov continued his good form as a regular starter in the beginning of 2025–26 season with two assists for the 2–2 draw against CSKA Sofia.

Red Star Belgrade

On 12 June 2026, Balov joined Serbian SuperLiga club Red Star Belgrade on a four-year deal with an option for a fifth.[5]

International career

On 16 March 2026, Balov was called up for the first time for the Bulgaria senior national team.[6] On 27 March 2026, he made his debut for the team in a 10–2 win against the Solomon Islands in the FIFA Series, being subbed on at half-time and scoring his first goal in the 65th minute.[7]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 June 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Bulgarian Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Slavia Sofia II 2022–23 Bulgarian Third League 31———31
2023–24 305———305
2024–25 112———112
Total 448000000448
Slavia Sofia 2023–24 Bulgarian First League 1000——10
2024–25 20020——220
2025–26 31521——336
Total 525410000566
Career total 961341000010014

International

As of match played 27 March 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bulgaria
202611
Total11
Scores and results list Bulgaria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Balov goal.
List of international goals scored by Kristiyan Balov
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
127 March 2026Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia Solomon Islands8–110–22026 FIFA Series

Honours

References

  1. ↑ "Christian Balov". crvenazvezdafk.com. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "Kristiyan Balov Stats". bulgarian-football.com.
  3. ↑ "19-годишният Кристиян Балов с дебютен гол в Първа лига" (in Bulgarian). detskifootball.bg. 29 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Кристиян Балов: Радвам се, че вкарах хубав гол" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. 25 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Кристијан Балов нови играч Црвене звезде". crvenazvezdafk.com (in Serbian). 12 June 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Обявиха състава на България за FIFA Series 2026". Gong.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  7. ↑ "България размаза с двуцифрен резултат Соломонови о-ви за рекорд през XXI век". Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Ивайло Чочев спечели анкетата „Футболист на Футболистите", Хулио Веласкес е №1 при треньорите". abf-bg.org (in Bulgarian). Association of Bulgarian Footballers. 26 May 2026. Archived from the original on 26 May 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
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