Stanislav Lapkes Bio
Stanislav Lapkes is a Belarusian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. Born on 3 March 2006 in Minsk, Belarus, he has built his early career in the United States after relocating with his family as a teenager. Standing 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) tall, he has progressed through the Columbus Crew academy and reserve side before earning a place on the senior roster. He is widely viewed as one of the promising young goalkeepers developed through the Columbus Crew pipeline.
Early Life and Background
Stanislav Lapkes was born in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, on 3 March 2006. He is the son of Dmitry Lapkes, a Belarusian Olympic fencer, and grew up in a sporting household that introduced him to athletic competition at an early age. His father’s background as an international-level athlete helped shape an environment in which disciplined training and competition were a normal part of daily life.
Lapkes first entered organized football at the age of six when he joined the academy of Dinamo Minsk. He quickly established himself as the starting goalkeeper within the club’s youth setup and continued to develop there for several seasons. His family later relocated to the United States in 2019, settling in Ohio, a move that set the course for the next stage of his footballing development.
Path to Soccer
After arriving in Ohio, Lapkes earned a trial with the Columbus Crew Academy and was invited to join the program. He adapted to the American youth system and worked his way up the age-group ranks, training in a competitive environment that has produced several recent first-team contributors. In 2022, he was part of the Columbus Crew academy side that reached the final of the MLS Next U17 Cup, where the team ultimately fell to the Philadelphia Union academy. Lapkes was recognized for his performances throughout the tournament and was named the competition’s best goalkeeper.
Stanislav Lapkes Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
In May 2022, Lapkes signed an amateur contract with Columbus Crew 2, the club’s reserve side competing in MLS Next Pro. He continued to train within the broader Columbus Crew structure while gaining experience with the second team. The following year, on 16 April 2023, he made his professional debut for Columbus Crew 2 in a victory over New England Revolution II, marking a key milestone in his young career.
During the 2023 MLS Next Pro season, Lapkes featured sixteen times in league play and recorded five shutouts, establishing himself as a regular starter between the posts. On 7 September 2023, he signed his first professional contract with the club. Later that same year, on 22 October 2023, he became the youngest goalkeeper to start in the MLS Next Pro Cup final, doing so at 17 years, seven months, and 19 days old.
MLS NEXT Pro Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Lapkes used his first professional season to cement a starting role with Columbus Crew 2, producing consistent performances that drew league-wide attention. His five shutouts across sixteen league appearances highlighted a calm, organized style well beyond his years. His selection for the 2024 MLS All-Star Game’s Goalie Wars skills competition, as one of four MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers chosen, reflected the reputation he had built in the reserve ranks.
During the 2024 Major League Soccer season, Lapkes was named to the first-team bench on five occasions, providing cover for the senior goalkeepers. Although he did not make an MLS appearance that year, the regular exposure to the first-team environment served as a valuable step in his development.
Columbus Crew Era (2025–Present)
In January 2025, Stanislav Lapkes signed a contract with the Columbus Crew first team under the Homegrown Player mechanism. The agreement was structured to run through the 2027 season, with the club holding an additional two-year option. The deal formalized his transition from promising academy product to contracted member of the senior squad.
He made his U.S. Open Cup debut on 19 March 2025, starting in a 4–1 victory over NY Renegades FC. On 5 March 2026, he was loaned to USL League One side Sarasota Paradise to gain further senior experience, although he was recalled by Columbus on 8 May 2026 without having made an appearance for the Florida-based club. He currently wears the number 41 shirt for the Crew.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although goalkeepers are evaluated differently from outfield players, Lapkes is regarded for his command of the penalty area, his shot-stopping consistency, and his composure in one-on-one situations. His tall frame aids him in claiming crosses and dominating his six-yard box, while his distribution work fits the modern expectations of MLS goalkeepers who are asked to build play from the back.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable moments of Lapkes’ young career are his record-setting appearance in the 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup final as the youngest starting goalkeeper in the competition’s history, his selection for the Goalie Wars event at the 2024 MLS All-Star Game, and his senior debut in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup. His 2022 MLS Next U17 Cup best goalkeeper award marked him as a top youth prospect even before turning professional.
Stanislav Lapkes Career Wins
As a young goalkeeper still in the early stages of his professional career, Stanislav Lapkes has accumulated individual and team milestones rather than a long list of senior trophies. His most prominent honors to date are the MLS Next U17 Cup Best Goalkeeper award from 2022 and his selection to the 2024 MLS All-Star Goalie Wars event.
MLS NEXT Pro Highlights
Lapkes recorded five shutouts across sixteen league appearances for Columbus Crew 2 in 2023, his debut professional season. His standout moment came on 22 October 2023, when he started the MLS Next Pro Cup final at 17 years, seven months, and 19 days old, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to do so in the competition’s history.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond league play, Lapkes contributed to a U.S. Open Cup victory in March 2025 when Columbus Crew defeated NY Renegades FC 4–1, marking his first official appearance for the senior team. He was also part of the Columbus Crew academy side that finished as runner-up at the 2022 MLS Next U17 Cup, losing the final to the Philadelphia Union academy.
Stanislav Lapkes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stanislav Lapkes is the son of Dmitry Lapkes, a Belarusian Olympic fencer. His father’s career in elite-level sport provided a household environment shaped by competition, training discipline, and international travel. While the family is not associated with a footballing lineage, the athletic background of his father has been cited as a key influence in his sporting upbringing.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Minsk before relocating to the United States in 2019, Lapkes settled in Ohio with his family. As a young professional in the early stages of his senior career, he focuses primarily on training and development with the Columbus Crew organization. Public details about his broader personal life have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Lapkes entered 2025 as a signed member of the Columbus Crew first team following his January Homegrown contract. His senior competitive debut came on 19 March 2025 in the U.S. Open Cup, a 4–1 win over NY Renegades FC, offering him a first official appearance in a Crew shirt. He spent the remainder of the season training alongside the senior goalkeepers while continuing to develop within the club’s pathway.
On 5 March 2026, he was loaned to USL League One side Sarasota Paradise in search of additional senior minutes. The loan was short-lived, however, as Columbus recalled him on 8 May 2026 without an appearance for the Florida-based club, reflecting the club’s long-term plan for his development within the first-team environment.