Molodoy: Trophies First, Awards Later

Molodoy: Trophies First, Awards Later

FURIA’s 20-year-old AWPer Danil “molodoy” Golubenko has thrust himself to the front of the Rookie of the Year conversation after picking up his second MVP medal of 2025 at IEM Chengdu. The Kazakh sniper was the standout performer in the Brazilian organization’s title run in China, following up on his breakthrough victory earlier in the season at FISSURE Playground 2.

Despite the growing hype, molodoy insists that individual accolades come second to team success. Speaking after the Chengdu grand final, he downplayed the Rookie of the Year race, saying that while it would be “good” to win the award, it “doesn’t matter” to him as much as lifting trophies. For him, team achievements come first — MVPs and personal awards can follow later.

That mindset reflects his meteoric rise in 2025 — from a promising CIS prospect to a two-time MVP winner and the star of FURIA’s new international roster.

From Kazakh Prodigy to FURIA’s Star AWPer

Born in 2005 in Kazakhstan, molodoy began his career in smaller CIS teams before attracting attention for his sharp AWPing style and aggressive play. His reputation grew rapidly after a stint with AMKAL in early 2025, where his performances in European qualifiers earned him recognition as one of the most exciting young snipers on the scene.

That form secured him a move to FURIA, one of Brazil’s most storied organizations, as part of their transition to an international lineup. By the time IEM Chengdu began, Golubenko had already lifted a Big Event trophy at FISSURE Playground 2 and collected his first MVP medal.

Chengdu: Second MVP and a Stronger Case for Rookie of the Year

At IEM Chengdu, FURIA finally broke through again on LAN, sweeping Vitality 3–0 in the grand final to claim a long-awaited big title. The victory earned molodoy his second MVP medal of 2025, further solidifying his position as the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Two MVPs in his debut year — from Belgrade and Chengdu — have placed him among the most impressive newcomers in modern Counter-Strike history. Yet, even after another dominant showing, molodoy’s reaction remained grounded. He reiterated that his focus lies on winning trophies with FURIA and that personal recognition is just a “second step” on the journey.

“I Dreamt, I Knew, and I Had Faith”

Chengdu wasn’t the first time Golubenko spoke about ambition. After his first Big Event victory at FISSURE Playground 2, he revealed that he had always believed he could reach this level, saying that the win proved FURIA could compete at the top and that it was “only the beginning.”

That tournament was a turning point — not only for molodoy’s individual career but also as the end of FURIA’s long trophy drought with their rebuilt roster.

Expectations Inside FURIA: Praise and Reality Checks

Within FURIA, teammates and coaches have placed high expectations on their young star. Captain Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis, who joined as in-game leader earlier in the project, acknowledged that molodoy’s confidence soared after the Belgrade win. He admitted that the team briefly felt “like gods,” with later struggles at ESL Pro League serving as a wake-up call.

YEKINDAR emphasized that those setbacks helped the team mature and focus on showing “the best version of FURIA” — something that began to materialize at Chengdu.

Veteran leader Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo has also praised molodoy’s potential, describing him as a player who needs time to grow but has the qualities to become a true star in the future.

“Top Four Is Not Enough”

Earlier in the year, after a tough loss at IEM Dallas, molodoy made it clear that mediocrity isn’t part of his mindset. He said that while some teams might be satisfied with a top-four finish, he personally doesn’t consider that a success — he wants to win events, not just make deep runs.

That statement aligns perfectly with his stance on personal awards: ambition and trophies first, accolades later.

Community Reaction: A New Star AWPer

Fans have quickly taken notice of the young Kazakh. Clips of his multi-kill rounds and clutch AWP plays have gone viral across social media, with some calling him one of the most exciting new snipers since m0NESY. While opinions vary, it’s clear that molodoy has already captured the community’s attention — and he’s done it within just months of entering Tier-1 Counter-Strike.

Rookie of the Year Race: Where Molodoy Stands

With two Big Event MVPs — FISSURE Playground 2 and IEM Chengdu — in his first year at the top level, molodoy has one of the strongest Rookie of the Year resumes in recent memory.

At only 20 years old, his rapid ascent has turned him from an unknown prospect into one of the most dangerous AWPers on the international stage. Yet, in his own words, the Rookie of the Year award is just a “side quest.” His main focus remains on stacking more titles with FURIA and proving that their Chengdu victory was just the beginning.

Summary

Core message: Awards like Rookie of the Year are nice, but for molodoy, winning tournaments comes first.

Achievements so far: Two MVPs — FISSURE Playground 2 and IEM Chengdu — in his rookie season.

Mindset: High standards and belief in his potential; not content with top-four finishes.

Teammate views: YEKINDAR highlighted his growing maturity after early overconfidence; FalleN called him a long-term star in the making.