Rokas Pukštas (born August 25, 2004) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for club Middlesbrough.
Club career Pukštas joined Sporting Kansas City's youth academy in 2018, and had a trial with Manchester United in 2019. He moved to the Barça Residency Academy in January 2020, where he was a regular starter of their youth sides.
Pukštas signed a professional contract with Hajduk Split on November 10, 2020, joining their under-17 side. He made his professional debut with Hajduk Split in a 2–1 Croatian First Football League win over Hrvatski Dragovoljac on April 29, 2022.
On August 31, 2026, Pukštas was signed to a five-year contract by Middlesbrough. On September 5, he made his debut for the club in a 1–0 league victory against Queens Park Rangers.
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. 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.
He was approached to represent the senior Lithuania national team in March 2022.
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.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHajduk Split2021–221. HNL10———102022–231. HNL21450—102742023–241. HNL28820——3082024–251. HNL3013140—3722025–261. HNL3193120—36102026–271. HNL22—51—73Total113241321111013827Solin (loan)2022–231. NL53———53Middlesbrough2026–27EFL Championship1000—1020Career total119271321112014530
Honors Hajduk Split Croatian Cup: 2022–23
United States U20 CONCACAF U-20 Championship: 2022
References
External links