Rokas Pukštas (born August 25, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Croatian Football League club Hajduk Split.

Rokas Pukštas
Personal information
Full name Rokas Pukštas[1]
Date of birth (2004-08-25) August 25, 2004 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Hajduk Split
Number 21
Youth career
2018–2020 Sporting Kansas City
2020 Barça Residency Academy
2020–2022 Hajduk Split
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Hajduk Split 56 (12)
2022Solin (loan) 5 (3)
International career
2019 United States U15 5 (0)
2021–2023 United States U20 14 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 28, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 4, 2023

Club career

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Pukštas joined Sporting Kansas City's youth academy in 2018, and had a trial with Manchester United in 2019.[2] He moved to the Barça Residency Academy in January 2020, where he was a regular starter of their youth sides.[citation needed]

Pukštas signed a professional contract with Hajduk Split on November 10, 2020, joining their U17 side.[3] He made his professional debut with Hajduk Split in a 2–1 Croatian First Football League win over Hrvatski Dragovoljac on April 29, 2022.[4]

International career

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Pukštas was born in the United States to Lithuanian parents, and is eligible to play for either nation. He represented the United States under-15 team in 2019.[5] He later represented the United States under-20 side in 2021 and at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he scored a goal against New Zealand.[6][7][8]

He was approached to represent the senior Lithuania national team in March 2022.[9]

Personal life

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Pukštas was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma to a family of Lithuanian athletes. His father, Mindaugas Pukštas, was a Lithuanian marathon runner who came 74th in his discipline at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[10]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played September 28, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hajduk Split 2021–22 1. HNL 1 0 1 0
2022–23 21 4 5 0 1[b] 0 27 4
2023–24 28 8 2 0 30 8
2024–25 6 0 0 0 6 0
Total 56 12 7 0 0 0 1 0 64 12
Solin (loan) 2022–23 1. NL 5 3 5 3
Career total 61 15 7 0 0 0 1 0 69 15
  1. ^ Includes Croatian Cup
  2. ^ Appearance in Croatian Super Cup

Honors

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Hajduk Split

United States U20

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Squad List – FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023: USA" (PDF). FIFA. May 18, 2023. p. 23. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Hajduku zanimljiv Rokas Pukstas". Dalmatinski portal.
  3. ^ "USYNT mid Rokas Pukstas signs in Europe | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  4. ^ "Slobodna Dalmacija – Rokas Pukštas upisao je debi za prvu momčad Bijelih: 'Osjećaj je bio sjajan, kao dijete sam sanjao da kao dio Hajduka budem pred navijačima'". slobodnadalmacija.hr. April 29, 2022.
  5. ^ Vaughn, Tyler (June 1, 2018). "OEFC's Pukstas captains U.S. U-15 National team". OKC Energy FC.
  6. ^ "U.S. Under-20 MYNT Head Coach Mikey Varas Names USA Roster For 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup In Argentina | U.S. Soccer Official Website". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  7. ^ "Rinktinės treneris su techniniu direktoriumi parodė dėmesį jaunam futbolo talentui". tv3.lt.
  8. ^ "United States 4-0 New Zealand (May 30, 2023) Game Analysis". ESPN. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Tamulionis, Aurimas. "Futbolo rinktinės pristatyme graudinęsis V.Ivanauskas kirto Rusijai: "Jų sporto niekada nebebus"". 15min.lt/sportas.
  10. ^ "Kroatijos futbole gali atsirasti dar viena lietuviška pavardė, geriau žinoma JAV nei Lietuvoje". DELFI.
  11. ^ Henry Jr, Larry (May 24, 2023). "Rokas Pukstas wins Croatian Cup with Hajduk Split". SBI Soccer. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
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