Perišić made his debut for the Croatia national team in 2011, and represented his nation at theUEFA European Championship in2012,2016,2020 and2024, as well as theFIFA World Cup in2014,2018 and2022, reaching and scoring an equaliser in thefinal of the 2018 World Cup and winning a bronze medal at the 2022 World Cup. Instrumental toCroatia's second "golden generation", Perišić is the nation's player with most goal contributions at the major tournaments (18).[8]
Perišić played in the youth ranks of the club he grew up supporting,Hajduk Split.[9] He received interest from a number of clubs, includingAnderlecht,PSV,Ajax,Hertha BSC andHamburger SV.[10][11] The only match he played for Hajduk was a friendly 3–1 win overSmederevo inMurska Sobota on 16 July 2006.[11][12] Returning from Murska Sobota toSplit, Perišić received offers from Anderlecht andSochaux. Hajduk offered Perišić a €100,000 contract, which was only €20,000 less than Hajduk's best playerNiko Kranjčar's contract.[11] However, the Perišić family opted for French club Sochaux, which paid €360,000 to sign him in the summer of 2006.[9] Sochaux's coachAlain Perrin personally arrived to Split with a private jet to convince Perišić to sign, waiting two days for his signature.[11] His physical and technical attributes led to comparisons to former Croatia internationalAljoša Asanović by some journalists.[10] He was a member of the Sochaux youth team, which won theCoupe Gambardella in 2007.[13] During his time at Sochaux, he failed to make a first-team appearance, but did play for the B team.[9] In January 2009, Perišić was sent on loan toBelgian top flight clubRoeselare for six months.[14] At the end of the2008–09 season, there were reports Perišić sought to join Belgian side Anderlecht.[15]
On 26 August 2009, Belgian clubClub Brugge acquired Perišić from Sochaux for a €250,000 transfer fee and signed him to a three-year contract.[16] Prior his move, Perišić was linked with a move to German side Hertha BSC, having gone on trial.[17]
In the opening match of the season, Perišić scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw againstGenk, then scored his second in two consecutive games and provided assists in a 4–1 win overWesterlo.[18][19] Overall, Perišić scored 9 goals in 33 league appearances, also making eight appearances in Brugge'sEuropa League campaign, scoring four goals. At the end of the season, Perišić signed a new three-year contract at Brugge, keeping him until 2015.[20]
Belgian football critics predicted a bright future for Perišić. In the2010–11 season, he was the top scorer of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League after scoring 22 goals for Club Brugge, also being namedPlayer of the Year in Belgium.[21] During the season, Perišić scored four goals and provided an assist in a 5–0 win againstCharleroi on 29 December 2010.[22]
On 23 May 2011, Perišić signed a five-year contract to play for German sideBorussia Dortmund after Dortmund paid an estimated €5 million transfer fee to Brugge.[23] He made his debut for the club in their 3–1 home victory over Hamburger SV on 5 August, substituting on forChris Löwe in the 75th minute.[24] During aChampions League match on 13 September 2011, he scored a late equaliser with a volley from 20 yards againstArsenal after entering as a substitute in the 69th minute.[25] On 14 October, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 win againstWerder Bremen, a match in which he was later sent off for a second bookable offence.[26] On 21 April 2012, he scored the important 1–0 goal againstBorussia Mönchengladbach and opened the door to the eighth national championship for Dortmund. The game ended 2–0 (the second was scored byShinji Kagawa).[27]
Perišić began the2012–13 Bundesliga season scoring a brace in a 3–2 loss against Hamburger SV on 22 September 2012.[28] However, Perišić soon found his first team opportunities limited, having played less in the first team and soon told Croatian channelNova TV he had received no support from Dortmund managerJürgen Klopp and accused him of favouring other players.[29] In response, Klopp criticised his actions as childish and Perišić faced a fine due to his comment.[30]
On 6 January 2013, it was reported Perišić transferred for €8 million toVfL Wolfsburg.[31] He scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in a friendly match againstStandard Liège on 10 January. He made his competitive debut for Wolfsburg againstVfB Stuttgart on 19 January 2013.[32] In March, he suffered a left knee injury that sidelined him throughout March and April.[33] He made his comeback in May in the match against Hamburger SV, coming on as a substitute and providing an assist. On 11 May 2013, he faced his former club Borussia Dortmund, scoring two goals.[34]
On 3 August 2013, Perišić scored his first cup goal for Wolfsburg in their 3–1 win againstKarlsruher SC.[35] On 26 October 2013, Perišić opened his goal scoring form in the2013–14 season in their 3–0 win against Werder Bremen, also creating an assist on a goal.[36] On matchday 30, he scored a brace in Wolfsburg's 4–1 home win against1. FC Nürnberg.[37] Perišić finished the season with ten league goals, second-best on the team behind fellow countrymanIvica Olić.[citation needed]
On 30 August 2015, Perišić signed with Italian clubInter Milan on a five-year contract[38] for a transfer fee of €16 million.[39] He was presented on 10 September alongsideAdem Ljajić, where he was assigned squad number 44, stating, "Inter were too big an opportunity to turn down."[40]
Perišić made his competitive debut for the club three days after signing, starting and playing 85 minutes in a 1–0 win against cross-city rivalsMilan in theDerby della Madonnina.[41] He opened his scoring account on 4 October in his fifth league appearance in the 1–1 away draw againstSampdoria, profiting fromMauro Icardi's assist,[42] which was followed by another goal againstPalermo two weeks later.[43]
On 15 December, Perišić made hisCoppa Italia debut in the round of 16 match againstCagliari at home, appearing as a second-half substitute and scoring the team's third goal of the match in an eventual 3–0 win.[44] He began 2016 on 6 January in the match away againstEmpoli; his cross from close range was finished home by Icardi for the only goal of the match, which kept Inter top to the table.[45] On 7 February, during the match againstHellas Verona, Perišić came on as a 46th-minute substitute to change the fate of the match, providing an assist for Icardi and also scoring for himself to level the result 3–3, rescuing a point for his side.[46]
March was Perišić's best month in personal terms, scoring four goals and providing three assists. On 2 March, in the returning leg of Coppa Italia's semi-final againstJuventus atSan Siro, Perišić scored the team's second goal of the match to help Inter overturn the 3–0 defeat and equal the aggregate 3–3, which led the match into the penalty shoot-outs. However, Inter lost 5–3 and were eliminated from the competition.[47][48] Perišić scored Inter's last goal of2015–16 season in a 2–1 home win against Empoli on the final matchday.[49]
Perišić finished his first season with Inter Milan by playing 37 matches, including 34 in league, scoring nine goals, seven of them in league, and Inter Milan finished fourth inSerie A, returning in European competitions after a one-year absence and was eliminated in the semi-final in the Coppa Italia. He was also Inter Milan's top assist provider with six assists.[50]
Perišić openedhis second Inter season by playing in the last 30 minutes of the first matchday as fell away atChievo.[51] He then scored his first goal of the new season in theDerby d'Italia against Juventus at home, entering in the 69th minute and heading home an Mauro Icardi cross nine minutes later to give Inter second win of the season, also the first in league against Juventus since November 2012.[52]
Perišić played his first European match for Inter Milan on 29 September in team's second2016–17 UEFA Europa Leaguegroup stage match againstSparta Prague, appearing in the last 27 minutes of a 3–1 away defeat.[53] On 20 November, in theDerby against rivals Milan, he first provided theAntonio Candreva's long-range strike before scoring himself a last minute equaliser, as Inter took one point in the last moments.[54]
On 8 January 2017, Inter Milan's first match of the calendar year, Perišić provided aMan of the Match performance by scoring both goals in a 2–1 away win atUdinese; it was his first Inter brace which took his tally up to six goals.[55] This was followed by another splendid individual performance against Chievo six days later as he scored his team's second goal after an individual effort in an eventual 3–1 win.[56]
On 5 February, in the matchday 23 against Juventus atJuventus Stadium, Perišić received his first-ever careerred card as Inter Milan were defeated 1–0.[57] He was subsequently banned for two matches byItalian Football Federation (FIGC) for aggressive confrontation of the referee. After Inter Milan appealed the suspension, it was reduced to one match.[58] He returned from suspension on 19 February in the 1–0 win atBologna,[59] and scored his second brace on 5 March in a 5–1 thrashing of Cagliari atStadio Sant'Elia.[60]
On 22 April, Perišić reached double-figures for the first time with Inter Milan after scoring in a 5–4 away defeat againstFiorentina.[61] On the final matchday, he provided a stunning individual performance by providing two assists after individual efforts, also scoring his 11th goal of the season as Inter thrashed Udinese 5–2 at home end the season on a high.[62] Perišić finished his second Inter season by making 42 appearances in all competitions, including 36 in league, which 31 were as starter, as Inter finished theSerie A in seventh position, once again failing to qualify for theUEFA Champions League. He scored 11 goals, his highest tally since 2010–11 season with Club Brugge; and also provided ten assists, including eight in Serie A, breaking his last season's record.[63]
Perišić startedhis third Inter season on a high, first scoring and assisting in the opening day of2017–18 Serie A against Fiorentina, then providing two assists in the away match atRoma as Inter won 3–1,[64] Inter Milan's first league win at theStadio Olimpico in nine years.[65]
On 8 September, Perišić signed a new contract extension with Inter Milan, keeping him at the San Siro until June 2022. Upon signing, Perišić said, "It's a special day, it's certainly emotional and I'm happy after the stress of this summer. Now, we can look forward and I'm only thinking about Inter. After signing, the pitch is the only thing left for me to think about."[66]
His second goal of the season, a late screamer outside the zone against newly promotedSPAL two days later, was his 20th career Serie A goal.[67] Perišić scored his firstSerie A hat-trick on 3 December in the 5–0 home win over Chievo.[68] His 100th appearance in all competitions for Inter occurred later on 30 December in the goalless draw versusLazio on matchday 19.[69]
In January 2019, English club Arsenal attempted to sign Perišić.[71] He agreed to a deal with the club; however, Inter Milan blocked the deal. TeammateMauro Icardi's agentWanda Nara spoke out about Perišić's reasons for the departure, speculating that they might be of personal nature.[72] Nara's comments resulted in a fallout between the players, resulting in Icardi being stripped of captaincy and dropped from the team ahead of aEuropa League away fixture againstRapid Wien.[73][74][75]
Perišić featured in 34 matches inSerie A, only behindSamir Handanović andMatteo Politano, scoring 8 goals; hence being the second top scorer for Inter after Icardi. Following the appointment ofAntonio Conte, Perišić struggled to fit into the new manager's system duringpre-season.[76]
On 9 September, Bayern announced they had opted not to sign Perišić on permanent deal, after failing to negotiate a deal with Inter and he returned to his parent club.[89]
On 31 October 2020, Perišić scored his first goal of the season for Inter Milan in a 2–2 home draw againstParma.[90] On 3 November, he scored his firstChampions League goal for Inter Milan in a 2–3 defeat againstReal Madrid.[91] During the spring part of theseason, Perišić was praised by Conte for successfully adapting to his system, moving from the position of awinger to that of awing-back.[92][93]
On 2 May 2021, four matchdays before the end of the season,Sassuolo drew 1–1 withAtalanta at home, meaning that Inter mathematically secured theSerie A title. It was Inter's first league title since2009–10 season, ending Juventus' nine-season-long league-winning streak. The title was also Perišić's first trophy with theNerrazzuri.[94][95][96]
On 11 May 2022, in theCoppa Italia final against Juventus, Perišić broke the deadlock in the first half ofextra time by scoring a brace and bringing the score from 2–2 to the eventual 4–2.[100]
On 31 May 2022, Tottenham Hotspur signed Perišić on a free transfer, reuniting him with former manager Conte.[101][102] He became the fifth Croatian in history to sign with the club.[103] He played his first minutes for the club in a 2–1 friendly victory overRangers on 23 July.[104] Perišić made hisPremier League debut on 6 August 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute forRyan Sessegnon in a 4–1 home victory overSouthampton.[105]
On 20 September 2023, the club confirmed that Perišić had sustained a complexanterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee in non-contact training and that he would undergo surgery.[106]
On 19 January 2024, Perišić returned to his hometown clubHajduk Split. Initially, he joined the club on loan until the end of the season, with Hajduk later announcing it had reached an agreement with the player to remain at the club for another season, following the expiration of his contract with Tottenham Hotspur.[107] On 30 August 2024, Perišić and Hajduk terminated the contract by mutual consent. An attempt was made for a transfer to one of the clubs inSerie A, but was not successfully completed before transfer deadline.
On 18 September 2024, Dutch clubPSV signed Perišić on a free transfer in a one-year deal.[108] On 2 November 2024, Perišić scored his first goal for PSV in a 3–2 defeat againstAjax.[109] He scored his firstUEFA Champions League goal for PSV on 11 February 2025 in a 2–1 defeat toJuventus.[110] On the return leg, he scored again in a 3–1 victory, making him the oldest ever player to score in consecutive Champions League knockout stage matches.[111]
On 26 March 2011, at age 22, Perišić made his debut for thesenior national team againstGeorgia.[113] He was a member of Croatia's squad forUEFA Euro 2012, starting in the team's opening two matches against theRepublic of Ireland andItaly, and appearing as a substitute in the team's final match, a 1–0 loss toSpain.[114]
During the2014 World Cup qualification, Perišić appeared in 12 matches for Croatia and scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw withBelgium.[115] On 14 May, Perišić was named in Croatia's 30-man preliminary squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[116] On 31 May, he scored a brace in a 2–1 win againstMali in a World Cup warm-up match inOsijek.[117] Perišić was confirmed as a member of Croatia's final 23-man World Cupsquad on 2 June.[118] Perišić was in Croatia's starting team for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, a controversial 3–1 defeat to tournament hostsBrazil at theArena Corinthians,São Paulo.[119] In the following match, he scored Croatia's second goal as they defeatedCameroon 4–0.[120] On 23 June, he scored a consolation goal in the team's finalgroup match, 3–1 defeat toMexico which eliminated them from the tournament.[121] Despite Croatia's early elimination, Perišić was ranked as the second-best performing player of the group stage byFIFA.[122]
Perišić was Croatia's top goalscorer inEuro 2016 qualifying, scoring six goals in nine matches as Croatia qualified in second place inGroup H.[123] In Croatia's secondEuro 2016group match, Perišić scored the opening goal of a 2–2 draw with theCzech Republic.[124] Five days later, he scored the winning goal against Spain, which secured qualification to theknockout stage as group winners for Croatia.[125] The tournament however ended in disappointment as they were subsequently knocked out in the round of 16 to eventual winnersPortugal.
Perišić appeared regularly in Croatia's successful2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, as they finished runner-up inGroup I which sent them tosecond round.[126] The team playedGreece, winning the first leg 4–1, with Perišić scoring the third goal in 33rd minute.[127] Croatia booked their spot to theWorld Cup final stages in Russia on 12 November by playing a goalless draw in the returning leg.[128] In May 2018, Perišić was named in Croatia's finalsquad for the 2018 World Cup.[129] In the third group stage match, Perišić scored in the last minute of the regular time in the 2–1 win overIceland as Croatia toppedGroup D on full points.[130] During Croatia's semi-final match againstEngland on 11 July, Perišić scored Croatia's equaliser in the second half of regulation time, and later also set-upMario Mandžukić's match-winning goal in the second half ofextra-time to give Croatia a 2–1 victory, sending the team to theWorld Cup final for the first time in their history.[131] He was namedMan of the Match.[132] In the final againstFrance on 15 July, he scored Croatia's temporary equaliser in the first half, although the match eventually ended in a 4–2 defeat to France.[133] Perišić covered the most ground of any player in the tournament, running a total of 72.5 kilometres.[134]
On 1 June 2021, Perišić made this100th appearance for the national team in a friendly 1–1 draw withArmenia in which he scored Croatia's goal.[141] He was selected in Croatia'sfinal squad forUEFA Euro 2020, where he was the team's most efficient performer, scoring twice (in the 1–1 draw with the Czech Republic and the 3–1 victory overScotland) and assisting once (in the latter match). However, on 27 June, he tested positive forCOVID-19 which ruled him out of the squad for theknockout phase.[142][143]
On 9 November 2022, Perišić was selected in Croatia'sfinal squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup.[144] At the tournament, he assisted three times—twice in the 4–1group stage victory overCanada and once in the 2–1third place play-off victory overMorocco—and scored once, the equalizer in the 1–1round of 16 draw withJapan. That way, he extended his record of the Croatia player with the most goal contributions at major tournaments (18), as well as surpassedDavor Šuker as the Croatia player with the most goals scored at major tournaments (10).[145][146][8]
Born inSplit, Perišić grew up in the town ofOmiš, where his parents are from. As a child, he worked on his father's poultry farm.[11]
Perišić married Josipa in 2012, having first met her while they were in high school.[149] The pair have two children: a son, Leonardo, born on 9 October 2012; and a daughter, Manuela, born on 28 July 2014.[150][151]
^"Relazione sulla Gestione". F.C. Internazionale Milano S.p.A. bilancio al 2015-06-30 [F.C. Internazionale Milano S.p.A. financial report for the year ending at 2015-06-30]. Registro Imprese (Report) (in Italian). Milan:C.C.I.A.A. 2015.
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