Biography
Who is Mario Pašalić?
Early life and football beginnings
Mario Pašalić was born in Mainz, Germany, though he grew up in Kaštel Gomilica, Croatia. He started his football path at the local club NK GOŠK Kaštel Gomilica. Later, he joined the youth academy at Hajduk Split in 2006.
During his time with the Hajduk Split youth teams, he gained significant attention. In the 2011–12 season, the midfielder scored 17 goals for the under-17 squad. He also scored the decisive goal for the under-19 team against Hrvatski Dragovoljac to win the club championship trophy.
Professional career and club moves
Mario Pašalić made his professional debut for Hajduk Split on 14 April 2013 in a match against Cibalia. After signing a four-year contract in 2013, he scored 11 goals and provided five assists during the 2013–14 season. In 2014, he moved to Chelsea F.C. For a reported fee of £3 million.
While under contract with Chelsea, he spent several periods on loan at various clubs. He played for Elche in Spain, where he scored three goals during the 2014–15 season. He also had stints at Monaco, AC Milan, and Spartak Moscow. At AC Milan, he won the 2016 Supercoppa Italiana by scoring the winning penalty against Juventus.
International career with Croatia
The midfielder has been a regular part of the Croatia national football team. He earned his first senior international cap in September 2014 during a game against Cyprus. Since then, he has represented his country in major tournaments including UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and Euro 2024.
Mario Pašalić was also selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. He scored his first goal for the national side in October 2020 during a match against Switzerland. His international achievements include being part of the squad that reached third place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Personal life and family
The family of Mario Pašalić moved to Germany because of the Yugoslav Wars. His father, Ivan, is a Bosnian Croat from near Tomislavgrad, while his mother, Slavica, is from Vrlika. He is also a cousin of the footballer Ivan Krstanović.
Mario married his partner Marija Grbeša on the island of Čiovo in June 2019. The couple welcomed a son named Luka in February 2022. He currently lives and works as a professional athlete in Italy.
Birthday and age
Mario Pašalić was born on February 9, 1995, which makes Mario 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Mario shares the date with 40 other famous people.
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