Ante Budimir (; born 22 July 1991) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Osasuna and the Croatia national team.
In August 2014, Budimir joined German club FC St. Pauli of the 2. Bundesliga on a four-year deal until 2018. St. Pauli had to pay a transfer fee believed to be around â¬900,000. In an interview on Budimir's signing, former Croatian international Jurica Vranjeà ¡ described him as "tall, strong in the air, and reliable in combinations" and compared his style to Dimitar Berbatov. Budimir had a tough time at St. Pauli, scoring one goal in 20 appearances in the St. Pauli shirt.
On 1 September 2015, Budimir was loaned out to Italian club Crotone for the remainder of the season. He made his Crotone debut on 7 September 2015, in a 4âÂÂ0 loss to Cagliari Calcio, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Pietro De Giorgio. In March 2016, Crotone exercised their â¬1 million buyout option on the player. Budimir ended the season as Crotone's top goalscorer with 16 goals in 40 Serie B appearances, as they were promoted as runners-up to Cagliari; this tally was fourth for goalscorers in the whole league season.
In June 2016, ahead of Crotone's debut Serie A season, Sampdoria of the same league activated Budimir's release clause believed to be in the region of â¬1.8 million, and the player signed a deal ending in mid-2020. A year later, he was sent back to Crotone on a one-year loan with obligation to buy. The obligation was fulfilled by now relegated Crotone at the end of the season, and he remained in the club on a permanent contract.
On 15 January 2019, Budimir moved on loan to Spanish club Mallorca. He scored his first goal for the Balearic club on 3 February as a Panenka penalty kick in a 2âÂÂ0 home win over AD Alcorcón, later being sent off. On 27 June, after achieving promotion to La Liga â he scored the opening goal as they overturned a 2âÂÂ0 first-leg deficit to defeat Deportivo de La Coruña 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate in the play-off final â he signed a permanent deal for a â¬2.2 million fee.
During the 2019âÂÂ20 season Budimir scored 13 goals, which also placed him as the 8th best 2019âÂÂ20 La Liga top scorer.
On 5 October 2020, Budimir was loaned to top tier side CA Osasuna for the 2020âÂÂ21 season. On 7 June 2021, Osasuna announced the signing of Budimir on a permanent deal until June 2025. In the 2023âÂÂ24 season, he became the top scorer for his club, as he also set a new personal best in La Liga by scoring 17 goals.
On 2 March 2025, he scored a penalty in a 3âÂÂ3 draw against Valencia, surpassing 's long-standing record of 57 La Liga goals for Osasuna. He finished the 2024âÂÂ25 season with 21 goals, setting a new personal best and eclipsing his previous seasonâÂÂs tally. He would also become the 3rd top La Liga scorer that season, beating out the likes of Julian Alvarez and Raphinha.
On 27 August 2020, during pre-season training, Budimir was called up by the Croatia national team coach Zlatko Daliàfor September Nations League clashes against Portugal and France. He made his national team debut on 7 October in a friendly 2âÂÂ1 victory over Switzerland, providing Mario Paà ¡aliàwith an assist for the winning goal. He scored his debut goal on 11 November in a friendly 3âÂÂ3 draw with Turkey.
Budimir was a member of Croatia's squad that finished third at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He appeared twice as a substitute â in the round of 16 against Japan and the quarter-final against Brazil.
On 21 November 2023, Budimir scored the only goal of Croatia's 1âÂÂ0 win over Armenia to qualify the nation for the UEFA Euro 2024.
Budimir's family comes from the village of Ozimica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he was born in Zenica as it was the nearest town with an adequate hospital. Fleeing the war, the family moved to Croatia when Budimir was 6 months old.
Osasuna
Croatia