Rokas Pukštas (born August 25, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Croatian Football League club Hajduk Split.
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.[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
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
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 February 23, 2025
| 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 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 24 | 1 | |||
| Total | 68 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 82 | 13 | ||
| Solin (loan) | 2022–23 | 1. NL | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | |||
| Career total | 73 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 16 | ||
- ^ Includes Croatian Cup
- ^ Appearance in Croatian Super Cup
Honors
Hajduk Split
United States U20
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Hajduku zanimljiv Rokas Pukstas". Dalmatinski portal.
- ^ "USYNT mid Rokas Pukstas signs in Europe | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Vaughn, Tyler (June 1, 2018). "OEFC's Pukstas captains U.S. U-15 National team". OKC Energy FC.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Rinktinės treneris su techniniu direktoriumi parodė dėmesį jaunam futbolo talentui". tv3.lt.
- ^ "United States 4-0 New Zealand (May 30, 2023) Game Analysis". ESPN. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
- ^ Tamulionis, Aurimas. "Futbolo rinktinės pristatyme graudinęsis V.Ivanauskas kirto Rusijai: "Jų sporto niekada nebebus"". 15min.lt/sportas.
- ^ "Kroatijos futbole gali atsirasti dar viena lietuviška pavardė, geriau žinoma JAV nei Lietuvoje". DELFI.
- ^ Henry Jr, Larry (May 24, 2023). "Rokas Pukstas wins Croatian Cup with Hajduk Split". SBI Soccer. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
External links
- Rokas Pukštas at Soccerway