Robert Prosinecki, the only footballer to score for two different countries at a World Cup, has been described as a 'chain-smoking genius' whose unique career included stints at Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Portsmouth.
World Cup Record That May Never Be Broken
The former midfielder scored for Yugoslavia at the 1990 World Cup in a 4-1 win over the United Arab Emirates and later for Croatia at the 1998 World Cup in a 3-1 victory against Jamaica. He helped Croatia finish third in 1998, scoring again in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands. According to FIFA, no other player has achieved this feat.
Cult Hero at Portsmouth
Prosinecki joined Portsmouth in 2001 at age 35, known for his heavy smoking. Former teammate Gary O'Neil told talkSPORT in 2020: "He was ancient when he came to play for us, but he was still brilliant. When he came to the club I thought: 'He’s rubbish! He can’t run, how’s he going to play for us?' But he’d get the ball and you were just like: 'Oh my God, this guy is a genius!'"
O'Neil recalled a hat-trick against Barnsley in a 4-4 draw: "In the dressing room after the game he just threw his boots down and looked at us with disgust... And then he went to the kit room with the kit man to have a fag." He added that Prosinecki would smoke several cigarettes at every half-time.
Former Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch also praised Prosinecki, telling the Daily Mail: "Robert fitted the word 'maverick' perfectly and the only time he wasn't smoking a Marlboro Red was when he was on the pitch. We would barely see him at training during the week but, my God, when he played for Portsmouth he was unbelievable."
Career Highlights
Prosinecki played for Red Star Belgrade, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Dinamo Zagreb, and Portsmouth. He is currently the manager of the Kyrgyzstan national team. Despite injury problems and a smoking habit, he remains a legendary figure in football history.
