FC Utrecht's teenage striker Artem Stepanov, heralded as 'the next Erling Haaland', has gone viral after admitting he doesn't know who Rafael van der Vaart is — despite matching one of the Premier League legend's records.
The 19-year-old Ukrainian, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, started the season by scoring five league goals in five consecutive games. That feat matched a 25-year-old record set by former Tottenham and Netherlands star Rafael van der Vaart, who was the last player to score in five consecutive Eredivisie games while playing for Ajax.
Teen unaware of Dutch icon
Stepanov wasn't even born when Van der Vaart left Ajax for Hamburger in Germany. When a reporter told him he'd matched the record, Stepanov responded: "I don't know these people. No, no, no, no, no. I don't know."
The stunned interviewer explained the former Ajax star had scored in five consecutive matches as a teenager, to which Stepanov ambitiously responded: "Then I will try to break this record." When advised to study footage of the Dutch icon ahead of his next game against Feyenoord, Stepanov said: "I have, I must, yes. Then I will go today to my bed and I will watch."
From war-torn Ukraine to Dutch pitch
Stepanov has been at Utrecht since the start of 2026. Despite a slow 2025/26 season, he's started this one with considerable success, scoring five goals in just six games. This has led to the 6ft 3in powerhouse being dubbed the "Ukrainian Haaland".
He has already faced considerable adversity in his life. Previously part of the Shakhtar Donetsk youth academy, at the age of 15 he and his family had to flee their native Ukraine in 2022, following Russia's invasion of the Eastern European country.
He excelled after transferring to Bayer Leverkusen's youth academy following a collapsed move to Bayern Munich, scoring 18 goals in 23 matches for the Leverkusen U17 team. Then manager Xabi Alonso soon called him up to the first team and he played in the Champions League.
Big test against Feyenoord
Now, having moved to the Netherlands, a big test is ahead of him as his Utrecht team will soon face second-placed Feyenoord, who could go top of the table if they beat Stepanov's side.
Utrecht currently sit 14th in the table, and will be hoping their Ukrainian talisman extends his goal-scoring record to help lift them up the standings.
