Croatia men's national water polo team
The Croatia men's national water polo team represents Croatia in international water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is controlled by the Croatian Water Polo Federation. They have won gold medals in the Olympics, World and European Championships, FINA World League and Mediterranean Games, making them one of the most successful men's water polo teams in the world.
They are Croatia's most successful national team, having won more titles than all other Croatian national teams.
It was the first Croatian national team in any sport to win at gold medal at the Olympic Games or World Games, the World Championships, and European Championships.
History
After the independence of Croatia the national water polo team competed at its first tournament and also its first finals at 1993 Mediterranean Games, followed by the 1993 European Championships where Croatia won 5th place.Croatia has since became Olympic champion, double World champion and European champion. Croatia has also won eight other medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships and was fourth on six occasions. The team holds a record streak of winning 6 medals in a row at World Championships and has reached semi-finals in over 60% of appearances at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships altogether since 2017. Since the formation of national team Croatia has qualified for every big tournament. It is the first Croatian national team in any Olympic team sport that has won gold medals at all three big competitions. Croatia has also won World League and Mediterranean Games. The only competition Croatia has yet to win is World Cup where the national team won silver medal in 2010.
The team has been awarded with Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport in 1996. So far two International Swimming Hall of Fame inductees have been members of Croatia national team – Perica Bukić as a player and Ratko Rudić as a coach.
Results
Medals
Updated after 2019 World Aquatics Championships| Competition | Total | |||
| Olympic Games | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| World Championship | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| World Cup | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| World League | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| European Championship | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Europa Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mediterranean Games | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 7 | 11 | 10 | 28 |
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Summer Olympics
Record against other teams at the Summer Olympics
World Championships
Record against other teams at the World Championships
World Cup
Record against other teams at the World Cup
World League
Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.* marks instances of not qualifying for the super final due to "host rule".
European Championships
Record against other teams at the European Championships
LEN Europa Cup
Mediterranean Games
Team
Current squad
Roster for the 2020 Men's European Water Polo Championship.Head coach: Ivica Tucak
| No | Name | Pos. | L/R | Date of birth | Height | Weight | Caps | Club |
| 1 | Marko Bijač | GK | R |  Pro Recco | ||||
| 2 | Marko Macan | DF | R |  VK Jug | ||||
| 3 | Loren Fatović | W | R | VK Jug | ||||
| 4 | Luka Lončar | CF | R | VK Jug | ||||
| 5 | Maro Joković | W | L |  Olympiacos | ||||
| 6 | Luka Bukić | W | R | HAVK Mladost | ||||
| 7 | Ante Vukičević | W | R |  CN Marseille | ||||
| 8 | Andro Bušlje | DF | R | Pro Recco | ||||
| 9 | Lovre Miloš | W | R | 7 | HAVK Mladost | |||
| 10 | Josip Vrlić | CF | R | HAVK Mladost | ||||
| 11 | Hrvoje Benić | D | R | VK Jug | ||||
| 12 | Xavier García | W | L | VK Jug | ||||
| 13 | Ivan Marcelić | GK | R | HAVK Mladost |
Player statistics
Most appearances
| Player | Matches | Positions | Years |
| Igor Hinić | 417 | C | |
| Tomislav Paškvalin | 285 | C | |
| Samir Barać | 176 | PP | |
| Andro Bušlje | 167 | HG | |
| Faris Okanovic | 161 | - | |
| Teo Đogaš | 148 | PP | |
| Frano Vićan | 129 | GK | |
| Elvis Fatović | 128 | PP | |
| Josip Pavić | 120 | GK | |
| Damir Burić | 117 | HG | |
| Miho Bošković | 108 | PP, HG | |
| Sandro Sukno | 97 | PP | |
| Petar Muslim | 90 | PP, SC | |
| Maro Joković | 89 | PP | |
| Nikša Dobud | 83 | C | |
| Vjekoslav Kobešćak | 86 | PP | |
| Ratko Štritof | 80 | HG | |
| Ivan Buljubašić | 79 | HG | |
| Paulo Obradović | 68 | PP, HG | |
| Zdeslav Vrdoljak | 58 | PP | |
| Anđelo Šetka | 57 | PP | |
| Dubravko Šimenc | 52 | PP | |
| Goran Volarević | 52 | GK | |
| Frano Karač | 37 | PP | |
| Tihomil Vranješ | 35 | PP | |
| Pavo Marković | 33 | PP | |
| Perica Bukić | 30 | PP | |
| Luka Lončar | 20 | C | |
| Antonio Petković | PP |
bold – not retired from national team
Top scorers
| Name | Goals | Average | Years | |
| Miho Bošković | 369 | 3.42 | PP, HG | |
| Paulo Obradović | 197 | PP, HG | ||
| Maro Joković | 158 | PP | ||
| Samir Barać | 135 | 0.77 | PP | |
| Faris Okanovic | 26 | 0.85 | PP | |
| Igor Hinić | 113 | 0.27 | C | |
| Petar Muslim | 100 | PP, SC | ||
| Nikša Dobud | 86 | 1.02 | C |
Head coaches
- Duško Antunović
- Bruno Silić
- Neven Kovačević
- Veselin Duho
- Zoran Roje
- Ratko Rudić
- Ivica Tucak
Notable players
- Milivoj Bebić
- Zdravko Ježić
- Zdravko Kovačić
- Renco Posinković
- Karlo Stipanić
Naturalized players
Statistics
Record against other teams
As of 24 January 2020NO FRIENDLY fixtures.
Wins/Defeats after penalty shootout counted as wins/defeats.
* includes games against / FR Yugoslavia
Biggest wins
double digit goal difference| Olympic Games | World Championship | World Cup | World League | European Championship | Europa Cup | Mediterranean Games | Qualifications |
|
Biggest losses
Non-senior competitions
World Youth Championship
;U-18| Year | Round | Position |
 2012 | Semi-final | 4th |
 2014 | Quarterfinal | 8th |
 2016 | Champions | 1st |
World Junior Championship
;U-20| Year | Round | Position |
 1991 | ||
 1993 | ||
| 1995 | ||
 1997 | Final | |
 1999 | ||
 2001 | Final | |
 2003 | Quarterfinal | 7th |
 2005 | Final | |
| 2007 | Semi-final | |
 2009 | Final | |
 2011 | Quarterfinal | 6th |
 2013 | Final | |
 2015 |
European Youth Championship
;U-17* incorporated in the 1st European Games
European Junior Championship
;U-19| Year | Round | Position |
 2004 | Final | |
 2006 | Semi-final | 4th |
| 2008 | Quarterfinal | 5th |
 2010 | Semi-final | |
 2012 | Semi-final | |
 2014 | Semi-final |
Awards
- Croatian team of the year: 1999, 2017, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017