The Croatia national team was preparing for the match against Portugal in the round of 16 of the World Cup. Meanwhile, a photo has been circulating on social media that has delighted many fans. It's a post from the Gymnastics Club Marjan, which shared a photo of a boy that many immediately recognized as Martin Baturina, today one of the key Croatian national team players.

How did it all start?

Baturina is one of the best Croatian footballers at the tournament, and before football, he was involved in gymnastics and is said to have been excellent in that field as well. In Marjan, they point out that he also showed exceptional talent in that sport, just like his brothers.

What do they say in Marjan?

‘‘He started his sports career in Marjan, him and his brothers. They were excellent gymnasts, Roko and Marin and Martin. Father Mate said that they had to go through gymnastics before playing football. And those alert eyes and smart strategy of Mate and Kristiana brought them to sports heights. We are proud of our kids. Of our friends‘‘, wrote the Gymnastics Club Marjan.

Current situation

Last result: England 4-2 Croatia (2026-06-17). Recent form (last 5): 1W-0D-4L (LWLLL, most recent first). Next fixture: vs Czechia (away, 2026-09-26) (3rd in the table). | Date | Result | Opponent | | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-17 | 4-2 | England | | 2026-09-26 | | Czechia |