QJ League Awards 2025: Best Forward Shortlist

The final three contenders for the individual honor are Abylay Toleukhan (Kairat), Alen Pak (Astana), and Gleb Makridov (Shakhtyor).

Abylay Toleukhan scored 16 goals and provided nine assists in 14 league matches. Among his standout performances were games against Ordabasy (Matchweek VII, hat-trick), Atyrau (Matchweek III, 2+1 in just 34 minutes), Aktobe (Matchweek X, three assists), and Shakhtyor (Matchweek XV, 2+1).

Last year, Toleukhan won two championships with Kairat – in both the U18 and U17 divisions.

Alen Pak appeared in 18 matches this season, scoring 16 goals and making three assists. He recorded two hat-tricks – against Irtysh (Matchweek XVII) and Tobol (Matchweek XX).

By the end of the season, Astana secured the silver medals.

Gleb Makridov, in his third Freedom QJ League season, netted 19 goals and made 10 assists in 19 matches.

His most prolific outings came against Kaisar – in Matchweek IX he produced a 2+2 performance, and in the return fixture (Matchweek XX) he delivered a hat-trick and an assist. Makridov also set a historic record in the league’s flagship tournament for both total minutes played (4,502) and total goal contributions (39), surpassing Kairat’s Dastan Satpayev in the latter category.

The winner of the award will be announced at the QJ League Awards ceremony on November 1.

For reference, the 2023 Best Forward award went to Kairat’s Ramazan Bagdat, while the following year’s honor was claimed by Nurdaulet Orynbassar of Taraz.