Yevhen Cheberko has found a home both on and off the pitch in Columbus | OneFootball

Born in Melitopol, Ukraine, Cheberko commenced his development at UFK Dnipropetrovsk before making the move to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in 2014, where he made 15 appearances. However, Dnipro's crippling financial difficulties would force him to be sold to Zorya Luhansk in 2017, where he transitioned from a central midfielder to a center back and established himself as one of the top defenders in the Ukrainian Premier League. These stellar displays attracted the attention of Austrian side LASK Linz, who signed him to the club in 2020.

Unfortunately for Cheberko, he was unable to find regular minutes during his time at Linz, prompting him to depart after just a few months. However, it wasn't all bad for him -- Cheberko would make his debut for Ukraine's senior team in October 2020, coming on at halftime in a friendly match vs. France. However, he was unable to stop the then-reigning world champions from scoring three goals, with a star-studded Les Bleus side demolishing Ukraine 7-1.

"Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe were really hard to play against when I made my Ukraine debut five years ago," stated Cheberko to MLS Multiplex. "They were some of my toughest opponents, as well as Artem Dovbyk, who was so strong and tall for his age when we played five years ago, and so good at holding the ball up."

"There's also ex-Crew striker Cucho Hernández, now at Real Betis, and Mihret Topčagić, who I played against in Croatia," he said. "He was in the last couple of years of his career, but you can see his experience; he always makes the right decision, he's good in the air, he's such a professional. He takes care of his body and sets an example for young players. There's also Lionel Messi, the greatest player of all time, but when we play vs. Miami, we typically have more possession than them."

Cheberko would make the move to Croatian side Osijek in 2021, where he helped them become one of the best teams in the nation and registered 61 appearances, before heading across the Atlantic and joining Columbus Crew in 2023. He's since emerged as a vital cog in defense, making 85 appearances and helping the Crew win the 2023 MLS Cup and the 2024 Leagues Cup, in addition to reaching the 2024 Concacaf Champions League Final. It hasn't taken long for the leading MLS pundits like Taylor Twellman and James Richardson to declare him one of the top defenders in the league, with Cheberko blending a rock-solid physique with a cultured approach in possession.

Making a life with the Columbus Crew

As he zooms through Columbus in his Mercedes-CLA, it's evident that Cheberko hasn't just found a niche on the pitch; he's also found a home for himself off the pitch in Ohio. "I live with my wife, and we have a small Pomeranian dog," added Cheberko. "We met in Ukraine and got married there. In my spare time, I just love to read books, walk with my dog and if I have time, spend time with friends. Some evenings, I can also watch some movies, but my hobbies are just walking with my dog, spend time with friends, and reading books."

It has been a promising 2025 season for Cheberko, who made his second Ukraine appearance after playing 66 minutes in a June friendly, and who has made 34 appearances in all competitions as Columbus qualified for the postseason for the third-straight season. He'll be looking to make it three trophy-filled seasons in a row as Columbus chase another MLS Cup title, but first, he'll be looking to help Columbus achieve their first home win since beating D.C. United 2-1 on July 19.

What is next for Cheberko?

At nearly 28 years old, Yevhen Cheberko has already played in the top divisions of Croatia, Ukraine, and Austria, but today, he's enjoying the best form of his entire career in Major League Soccer. "I think I'm at a good age as I've already experienced different leagues and am more stable, I don't have as many ups and downs as I did when I was younger. Obviously, I have weaknesses and I need to improve them. I have the room to improve."

"I have my goals but I don't want to share them," he added. "I prefer to keep them inside of me so that I can be actually focused on them. If I say something and I don't accomplish it, people think, 'He only talks nonsense and he's not doing things right.' So I just want to try to improve and be the best player, the best person, and the best human I can be, and help people. I want to help the team achieve goals, and obviously, I also have some individual goals that I'm trying to accomplish as well."