Rokas Pukštas

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[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 50 (12)
2022 → Solin (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 May 26, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 4, 2023

Club career

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.

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

Pukštas was originally eligible to play for both the United States and Lithuania but is now cap-tied to the United States. 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

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

Club
As of match played May 26, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hajduk Split 2021–22 1. HNL 10———10
2022–23 21450—1[lower-alpha 2]0274
2023–24 28820——308
Total 50127000105812
Solin (loan) 2022–23 1. NL 53———53
Career total 55157000106315
  1. Includes Croatian Cup
  2. Appearance in Croatian Super Cup

Honors

Hajduk Split

United States U20

References
  1. "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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