Marco Pašalić

Early career

Pašalić received his early training in his hometown with Karlsruher SC and SG Siemens Karlsruhe, as well as in the youth teams of SV Sandhausen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. In 2016, he returned to Karlsruher, where he played for three years. Following trial training sessions at Bayern Munich and NK Osijek, he joined VfB Stuttgart II, the reserve team of VfB Stuttgart, in 2019.

VfB Stuttgart II

On 5 September 2020, Pašalić made his senior debut for VfB Stuttgart II in the Regionalliga Südwest division when he played the full match of a 2–0 loss at home to Hessen Kassel. On 24 October, Pašalić scored his first senior goal, the reserve team's second in a 2–2 draw with Kickers Offenbach. Pašalić would go on to score eight goals across 24 appearances.

Borussia Dortmund II and Borussia Dortmund

On 21 May 2021, Pašalić announced on his Instagram that he would join 3. Liga club Borussia Dortmund II, the reserve team of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. On 24 July, Pašalić made his debut for the club when he started at FSV Zwickau on the opening matchweek of the 2021–22 3. Liga season. The game would end 2–1 in Borussia Dortmund II's favor, with Pašalić coming off in the 78th-minute for Cebrail Makreckis. In the following matchweek, Pašalić scored his first goal for the club, the first goal of a 1–1 draw with Waldhof Mannheim on 31 July. After Pašalić scored two goals in three games for the reserve team, Borussia Dortmund coach Marco Rose called…

Pašalić made appearances for the Croatian youth national teams of U17, and U21. On 18 November 2023, Pašalić made his senior debut for Croatia in a 2–0 away win against Latvia during the Euro 2024 qualifying. On 20 May 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. A few weeks later, on 3 June, he scored his first international goal in a 3–0 friendly victory over North Macedonia prior to the tournament. On 26 May 2025, Pašalić was called up by Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić for World Cup qualifiers matches against Gibraltar and Czech Republic. On 18 May 2026, Pašalić was selected by Dalić for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Pašalić was recalled to the national team by new head coach Slaven Bilić on 7 September following the World Cup for 2026–27 UEFA Nations League matches.

Club

As of match played 9 September 2026

International

As of match played 27 June 2026

Scores and results list Croatia's goal tally first.

Pašalić was born in Karlsruhe to a Croatian refugee family who fled to Germany to escape the Yugoslav Wars in the early 1990s. Pašalić stated that he was "grateful to grow up in Germany", but that he is "fully Croatian" and that he had always opted to play for Croatia internationally. Pašalić has two brothers, one of whom owns a construction company. As a teenager, Pašalić worked for the construction company after training sessions and would often work into the early morning hours, but his brother would allow him time to rest before the next training session.