Sergey Boytsov Leads Football Match 5,900 Feet Above Ground, First of Its Kind

Russian Extreme Athlete Sergey Boytsov and his team have etched their names into the record books by playing the world’s first football match suspended 5,900 feet (1,800 metres) in the sky, using a makeshift pitch strung between multiple hot-air balloons. The breathtaking stunt, performed above the clouds on a crisp winter morning, saw players in harnesses pass the ball across swaying baskets while a light aircraft circled to capture the dizzying footage.

The jaw-dropping video, posted on Boytsov’s Instagram, shows the athletes carefully balancing on narrow platforms, executing short passes, and even attempting headers as the balloons drifted gently in formation. Describing the feat as a tribute to “fearlessness and the love of sport”, Boytsov wrote, “We proved that football can be played literally anywhere—even above the clouds.”

Safety was paramount: each participant wore climbing harnesses tethered to the balloon envelopes, with rescue climbers and ground crews on standby. Despite the extreme conditions—freezing temperatures and occasional gusts—the match lasted nearly 15 minutes, ending in a celebratory group cheer as the balloons began their controlled descent.

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The clip has exploded online, racking up over 50 million views in under 48 hours, with reactions ranging from awe to humorous panic. “If the ball falls, it’s gone forever—RIP ball,” joked one commenter, while another marvelled, “These guys have nerves of steel!” Many hailed the team as “true Russian daredevils”, with some suggesting FIFA should recognise the altitude record officially.

Boytsov, already known for highline walks between skyscrapers and BASE jumps from cliffs, said the sky football match was the most technically complex stunt of his career, requiring months of planning with balloon pilots and rigging experts. The team now plans to submit the feat to both Guinness World Records and the Russian Book of Records.

In an era of viral extreme sports, this floating football match has captured global imagination, proving once again that for some athletes, the sky really is no limit.

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