Andriy Yarmolenko
A graceful and powerful winger whose left foot has delivered crucial goals for both Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian national team for over a decade.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Ukrainian footballer·Birthday: October 23·Millennials
Biography
Andriy Yarmolenko's football journey is one of unwavering loyalty punctuated by flashes of brilliance. Emerging from the youth system of Desna Chernihiv, he found his true home at Dynamo Kyiv in 2007, where he matured into a talismanic figure. With a languid style belying explosive power, his signature move—cutting inside from the right wing onto his devastating left foot—became a nightmare for defenders across Ukraine and Europe. He carried Dynamo to league titles and deep European runs, becoming the club's all-time top scorer in European competitions. His international career has been equally defining; as a captain and cornerstone of the national side, he scored vital goals, including in Euro 2020, carrying the hopes of a nation. A brief, challenging stint at West Ham United in the Premier League proved he could compete at the highest level, but his heart remained in Kyiv, where he returned to lead his boyhood club once more.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andriy was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andriy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Andriy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became Dynamo Kyiv's all-time top scorer in European club competitions.
- Captained the Ukraine national team and is among its all-time top scorers.
- Won multiple Ukrainian Premier League titles and Ukrainian Cups with Dynamo Kyiv.
- Scored a crucial goal against Sweden in the round of 16 at UEFA Euro 2020.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished bandura player, a traditional Ukrainian string instrument.
He was named Ukrainian Footballer of the Year in 2017.
His younger brother, also a footballer, died in a car accident in 2020.
“My heart is always with Ukraine, on the pitch and off.”
