The Most Famous

SOCCER PLAYERS from Croatia

This page contains a list of the greatest Croatian Soccer Players. The pantheon dataset contains 21,273 Soccer Players, 203 of which were born in Croatia. This makes Croatia the birth place of the 16th most number of Soccer Players behind Serbia, and United States.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Croatian Soccer Players of all time. This list of famous Croatian Soccer Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Croatian Soccer Players.

1. Luka Modrić (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 64.14, Luka Modrić is the most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 95 different languages on wikipedia.

Luka Modrić (pronounced [lûːka mǒːdritɕ]; born 9 September 1985) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for and captains both La Liga club Real Madrid and the Croatia national team. He is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and as the greatest Croatian footballer of all time. He plays mainly as a central midfielder, but can also play as an attacking midfielder. Modrić began his professional career with Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb in 2003 before spells on loan to Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar and Croatian side Inter Zaprešić. He made his debut for Dinamo in 2005 and his performances earned him a move to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in 2008, where he led them to UEFA Champions League qualification in 2010, their first in almost 50 years. In the summer of 2012, Modrić joined Real Madrid for a £30 million transfer fee. In his second season, he won the 2013–14 Champions League title, being selected for that season's squad of the season. After Zinedine Zidane took over Madrid in 2016, Modrić was a key member of the club's three consecutive Champions League titles from 2015–16 to 2017–18, each time being voted into the squad of the season. In total, he has won a record 27 major trophies at Madrid, including six UEFA Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and two Copa del Rey titles, making him the most decorated footballer in the club's history. Modrić has won numerous individual awards, including the Ballon d'Or in 2018, making him the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award since 2007, the Best FIFA Men's Player, and the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, also being named the IFFHS World's Best Playmaker in 2018. He has also been named in the FIFPRO World 11 six times and the UEFA Team of the Year three times. In 2019, he was awarded the Golden Foot award for career results and personality. Modrić made his international debut for Croatia against Argentina in March 2006, and scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Italy. Modrić has anchored Croatia's "second Golden Generation", participating in every major tournament Croatia has qualified for, including UEFA Euro 2008 to 2024, as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup to 2022. At Euro 2008, he was selected for the Team of the Tournament. Modrić led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, winning the Golden Ball in the process. In March 2021, he went on to become the country's most capped player in history. At the 2022 World Cup, he led the team to a third-place finish, winning the Bronze Ball in the process. Furthermore, he has been named Croatian Footballer of the Year a record twelve times between 2007 and 2023.

2. Davor Šuker (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 62.97, Davor Šuker is the 2nd most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 61 different languages.

Davor Šuker (Croatian pronunciation: [dâʋoːr ʃǔker] ; born 1 January 1968) is a Croatian football administrator and former professional player who played as a striker. He served as the president of the Croatian Football Federation from 2012 to 2021. As Croatia's all-time top scorer with 45 goals, Šuker is generally regarded as the greatest Croatian striker of all time, and as one of the greatest strikers of all time. Šuker began his footballing career in his hometown for local first division team NK Osijek as a 16-year-old. During his final season with the club, he became the league's top goal scorer. He made the move to sign for Dinamo Zagreb in 1989. The Croatian War of Independence halted a promising season for the 21-year-old, eventually resulting in Šuker's move to Spanish club Sevilla in 1991. In La Liga, Šuker was highly regarded, showing consistent form with Sevilla and being consecutively amongst the division's top goal scorers. He signed with Real Madrid five years later, and was again amongst the league's top scorers. While at the Santiago Bernabéu, he helped Madrid claim the Liga and UEFA Champions League titles as well. A move to Arsenal saw him distinguish himself throughout their run to the UEFA Cup final of 2000. He then had a spell with West Ham United, then closed his career playing for German side 1860 Munich. The crowning moment of Šuker's career was the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, where he won the Golden Boot by scoring six goals in seven matches. He also won the Silver Ball as the second-best player of tournament, behind Ronaldo. His goal-scoring feats proved instrumental in the Croatians winning the bronze medal in their debut World Cup. Croatia did not lose a single match in which Šuker scored prior to their semi-final loss to eventual champions France. Eventually named as Croatia's Golden Player at the UEFA Jubilee Awards in 2003, Šuker finished third in the 1998 FIFA World Player of the Year award and second in the 1998 Ballon d'Or. He is also the only Croatian on the FIFA 100 list created by Pelé. Under his highly controversial leadership as the president of Croatian Football Federation, Croatia reached runner-up at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the nation's highest achievement since their third-place finish.

3. Stjepan Bobek (1923 - 2010)

With an HPI of 62.47, Stjepan Bobek is the 3rd most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 35 different languages.

Stjepan Bobek (pronounced [stjêpaːn bǒbek]; 3 December 1923 – 22 August 2010) was a Yugoslav and Croatian professional football striker and later football manager. Usually a forward or attacking midfielder, Bobek was renowned for his technique, vision and goalscoring ability and is commonly regarded as one of Yugoslavia's greatest players. He is remembered for his time at Belgrade's Partizan, where he moved to following the end of World War II. He played for Partizan between 1945 and 1959 helping them win two Yugoslav First League titles and four Yugoslav Cups, and was named the club's greatest player in history in 1995. Internationally, he is the second all-time top scorer for the Yugoslavia national team, scoring 38 goals in 63 appearances between 1946 and 1956, and was member of Yugoslav squads which won two Olympic silver medals (in 1948 and 1952) and played in two FIFA World Cups (in 1950 and 1954). After retiring from active football in 1959, he was a successful manager, winning Yugoslav and Greek national titles with Partizan and Panathinaikos.

4. Dražan Jerković (1936 - 2008)

With an HPI of 61.36, Dražan Jerković is the 4th most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 35 different languages.

Dražan Jerković (Croatian pronunciation: [drǎʒan jěːrkoʋitɕ]; 6 August 1936 – 9 December 2008) was a Yugoslav and Croatian professional football manager and player. A forward, his professional playing career spanned from 1954 to 1966, during which he played for Dinamo Zagreb and AA La Gantoise. His first name is sometimes (incorrectly) spelled "Dražen". He was born in Šibenik, at the time in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

5. Josip Skoblar (b. 1941)

With an HPI of 61.18, Josip Skoblar is the 5th most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 32 different languages.

Josip Skoblar (born 12 March 1941) is a Croatian former professional football player and manager. He was primarily a forward, and also capable of playing on both wings. In 1971, he won the European Golden Shoe with 44 goals. He played for Zadar, OFK Belgrade, Hannover 96, Marseille and NK Rijeka. While playing at Marseille, Skoblar won the French First Division twice (1970–71, 1971–72), 1971 Challenge des Champions and 1972 Coupe de France. He was also the league top goalscorer three consecutive seasons (1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73). In 2009, he was inaugurated into the Olympique de Marseille Hall of Fame and in 2010 he was put into "The Dream Team 110 years of Olympique de Marseille". Skoblar is also part of the all time XI of OFK Belgrade and NK Rijeka. At the international level, Skoblar played for Yugoslavia appearing in 32 matches and scoring 11 goals. He was in the national team at the 1962 FIFA World Cup where they finished in fourth place losing to Czechoslovakia in the semi-final. As a manager, he managed NK Orijent, HNK Rijeka, Hamburger SV, Čelik Zenica, Dinamo Zagreb, Real Valladolid, Famalicão, NK Zagreb, Nîmes, Zadarkomerc, Marseille, Lebanon national team and Hajduk Split, with whom he won two Yugoslav Cups (1987, 1991).

6. Vladimir Beara (1928 - 2014)

With an HPI of 59.32, Vladimir Beara is the 6th most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 31 different languages.

Vladimir Beara (Serbian Cyrillic: Владимир Беара; pronounced [ʋlǎdimiːr beâra]; 26 August 1928 – 11 August 2014) was a Yugoslav football goalkeeper and manager. He played the vast majority of his professional club career for Hajduk Split and Red Star Belgrade in the Yugoslav Federal League and for the Yugoslavia national football team. He is considered to have been one of the best goalkeepers of his era.

7. Zvonimir Boban (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 58.91, Zvonimir Boban is the 7th most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 44 different languages.

Zvonimir Boban (Croatian pronunciation: [zʋônimiːr bǒban] ; born 8 October 1968) is a Croatian former footballer who currently works at UEFA as the Chief of Football. Boban played as a midfielder. He played most of his professional career for Italian club Milan with whom he won four Serie A titles and one UEFA Champions League title. He also captained the Croatia national team which won third place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Before 1990 and the international recognition of Croatia's national team, Boban had played for the Yugoslavia under-20 team which won the 1987 World Youth Championship. Boban scored three times in this tournament, as well as scoring in the final (drawn 1–1 with West Germany) and then converting the decisive penalty in the shootout. Having made his debut for the senior Yugoslavia team in 1988, Boban switched to playing for Croatia after the national team's inception, debuting against Romania in December 1990. Having appeared seven times for Yugoslavia, scoring once, Boban was capped 49 times for Croatia, scoring 12 goals, between 1992 and 1999. Since retiring from playing in 2002, Boban gained a history degree from the University of Zagreb. He has also become a football pundit on Croatian and Italian television, working most notably for Sky Italia and RTL Televizija.

8. Ilija Petković (1945 - 2020)

With an HPI of 57.11, Ilija Petković is the 8th most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 29 different languages.

Ilija Petković (Serbian Cyrillic: Илија Петковић, pronounced [ǐlija pětkoʋitɕ]; 22 September 1945 – 27 June 2020) was a Serbian footballer and manager. Petković was capped 43 times for Yugoslavia, participating in the 1968 European Football Championship, and in the 1974 FIFA World Cup where he scored a goal in a huge 9–0 win against Zaire. He played much of his career in OFK Beograd, with a mid-career stint playing for Troyes. He began his coaching career in 1990 with his original club, OFK Beograd, and he went on to coach numerous other clubs. Initially starting as an assistant, Petković coached his national team from 2000 to 2001 and from 2003 to 2006 – including most notably the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

9. Branko Zebec (1929 - 1988)

With an HPI of 57.01, Branko Zebec is the 9th most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 30 different languages.

Branislav "Branko" Zebec (17 May 1929 – 26 September 1988) was a Croatian footballer and manager who played for Yugoslavia. In his heyday, Zebec fascinated the world with his performances at the World Cups in 1954 and 1958. With Partizan he won 3 Yugoslav Cups (1952, 1954, 1957). With Red Star Belgrade he won the national championship in 1960. As coach he led Hajduk Split, Bayern Munich and Hamburger SV to success. A highly versatile player noted for his physical abilities and understanding of the game, Zebec was world-class whether on the left wing or in the more defensive role of left fullback, although he was capable of playing almost every outfield position on the pitch. He was particularly well known for his pace, having been able to run 100 meters in 11 seconds with football boots.

10. Mario Mandžukić (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 56.20, Mario Mandžukić is the 10th most famous Croatian Soccer Player. His biography has been translated into 70 different languages.

Mario Mandžukić (Croatian pronunciation: [mâːrio mǎndʒukitɕ]; born 21 May 1986) is a Croatian football coach and a former player who was an assistant coach of the Croatia national team. As a player, he played as a forward and became known for his aggressiveness, defensive contribution, and aerial prowess. Starting his career in 2004 at hometown club Marsonia, Mandžukić then moved to two Zagreb-based clubs: NK Zagreb in 2005 and Dinamo Zagreb in 2007. He was Croatian First League top goalscorer in the 2008–09 season. After joining VfL Wolfsburg in 2010, Mandžukić moved to fellow-Bundesliga side Bayern Munich in 2012. He helped Bayern win their first continental treble (Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League) in his first season, and became the first Croatian to score in a Champions League final. After winning a domestic double the following season, he left Bayern for La Liga club Atlético Madrid in 2014, and a season later was signed by Juventus in the Serie A. Mandžukić won four league titles and three Coppa Italia titles with Juventus, and reached the 2017 Champions League Final. He left Juventus in December 2019 for Qatari side Al-Duhail and returned Italy in January 2021, signing with AC Milan. He retired in September of the same year. At the international level, Mandžukić debuted for Croatia in November 2007 under manager Slaven Bilić. He participated in four major tournaments with his national side, Euro 2012, the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016, and the 2018 World Cup, reaching the final of the latter tournament, after which he retired from international football. In total, he made 89 international appearances and, with 33 goals, he is the Croatia national team's second-most prolific scorer of all time. He was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2013. Mandžukić is also one of the players to score in both the Champions League Final and World Cup Final. Mandzukic also scored a goal and an own goal in the 2018 World Cup final, becoming the first football player to score an own goal in a World Cup final.

People

Pantheon has 237 people classified as Croatian soccer players born between 1904 and 2003. Of these 237, 196 (82.70%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Croatian soccer players include Luka Modrić, Davor Šuker, and Josip Skoblar. The most famous deceased Croatian soccer players include Stjepan Bobek, Dražan Jerković, and Vladimir Beara. As of April 2024, 33 new Croatian soccer players have been added to Pantheon including Petar Radaković, Rodolfo Volk, and Frane Matošić.