Biography
Who is Marko Pjaca?
Early life and family background
Marko Pjaca was born in Zagreb, Croatia. His father, Željko, was a wrestler, and his mother, Višnja, was a judoka. During his childhood, he participated in several sports, including basketball, table tennis, and handball, before focusing on football. His grandmother on his mother's side hails from Orehovec Radobojski in Zagorje. He grew up in the Borovje neighborhood alongside his two older sisters, Martina and Iva.
Professional beginnings and Dinamo Zagreb
He started his career with the Croatian club Lokomotiva Zagreb. His first appearance in the Croatian First Football League occurred on 24 February 2012 in a match against Zadar. By the 2013–14 season, he established himself as a key player, scoring seven goals in 31 matches. This performance led to his move to Dinamo Zagreb in 2014.
During his time there, he helped the team secure domestic doubles. He scored a well-known hat-trick against Celtic in the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League. In 2016, his final match for the club included scoring two goals against Vardar before transferring to Italy.
Move to Italy and loan periods
In July 2016, he signed a five-year contract with the Italian club Juventus for a transfer fee of 23 million euros. His Serie A debut happened in August 2016 against Lazio. Throughout his tenure in Italy, he faced significant injury challenges, including a fibula fracture and an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Consequently, he spent several seasons on loan at clubs such as Schalke 04, Fiorentina, Anderlecht, Genoa, Torino, and Empoli. He eventually returned to Croatia in 2023 to play for Rijeka before rejoining Dinamo Zagreb in 2024.
International career and World Cup
Marko Pjaca debuted for the Croatia national team in September 2014 during a friendly match against Cyprus. He was a member of the squad that reached the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up against France. Also, he represented his country at the 2016 and 2024 UEFA European Championships.
After a gap in national team appearances, he returned to the field in March 2024 during a friendly match against Egypt. This appearance marked his first match for his country in nearly six years.
Birthday and age
Marko Pjaca was born on May 6, 1995, which makes Marko 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Marko shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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