Born in Skopje, Ristovski began his career at hometown club Vardar before he signed a five-year deal with Italian club Parma in January 2010. He was 17 at the time but the deal could not become official until he turned 18.[2]
Ristovski joined Serie B club Crotone on loan on 6 July 2011. After not receiving much playing time, the loan was cancelled in the January 2012 and he was then loaned to Frosinone for the remainder of the campaign. On 5 July 2012, he was again sent on loan, to Serie B side Bari. He was then loaned out to Latina in the same division for the 2013–14 season, returning to them for a second time in January 2015.[3] Before the bankruptcy of Parma, Ristovski was under contract with Parma until 30 June 2019.[4]
In July 2015, Ristovski moved to Rijeka in Croatia.[5][6] The transfer was facilitated through Rijeka's Italian partner club, Spezia. In order for Ristovski to remain eligible under Italy's non-EU quota, he was signed by Spezia on a free transfer and then loaned to Rijeka.[7] On 7 August 2017, Ristovski signed with Sporting.[8] On 2 February 2021, he signed for GNK Dinamo Zagreb.[9] He made his debut for Dinamo on 13 February in a derby against Osijek. In his debut, he received two yellow cards and was sent off.
International career
Ristovski made his debut for Macedonia on 10 August 2011 in an away friendly against Azerbaijan and has, as of April 2020, earned a total of 52 caps, scoring 1 goal.[10][11]
He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 2020, their first major tournament.
^"Comunicado por Stefan Ristovski" [Press release regarding Stefan Ristovski] (Press release) (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Sporting CP. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
^Sepúlveda, Pedro (31 January 2021). "Ristovski vendido ao Dínamo Zagreb" [Ristovski sold to Dynamo Zagreb]. SIC Notícias (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 3 February 2021.