Mario Pasalic

Mario Pasalic is a midfielder in Croatia's preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup, named by Zlatko Dalić with the final 26 still to be confirmed. The Atalanta midfielder is 31 at kick-off and brings 83 caps and 11 international goals for Croatia, a versatile central midfielder used across the middle of the pitch.

Croatia qualified as winners of their UEFA group in November 2025 and are in Group L, where they face England. Pasalic is among the midfielders in Dalić's provisional squad, a box-to-box option with goals in his game for the 4-2-3-1 should he be named in the final 26 by the squad deadline. Luka Modrić is the Croatia captain, wearing the armband for the side.

Pasalic is a versatile central midfielder, used as a box-to-box and attacking midfielder who chips in with goals and assists. For Atalanta and Croatia he covers ground between the boxes, arriving in the area as well as linking the play in front of him.

At 31, he is a midfielder who contributes at both ends rather than a pure holder. He is listed among the midfielders in Zlatko Dalić's provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup, valued for that mix of running and end product.

Mario Pasalic's Goal Rush role for Croatia is a box-to-box midfielder, an attacking midfielder who chips in with goals and assists from the centre. Croatia's £17m spend rates them Tier 3, sitting within the game's £200m card budget as the Group L games near.

At the mid-tier price, that box-to-box contribution from the centre is what he would offer, should he be among the final 26.