A triple Croatian champion with GNK Dinamo Zagreb, where he was a frequent goalscorer, topping the Prva Liga charts in 2008/09, Mario Mandžukić is now proving his class in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg. He emerged as Croatia's first-choice central striker during UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, scoring three goals.

• Born in Slavonski Brod, he began his professional career with local club NK Marsonia and scored 14 goals in his debut season in the Croatian second division, which prompted a transfer to top-flight NK Zagreb.

• Struggled in his first season at Zagreb but found the net 11 times in his second top-flight campaign and earned a cross-city move to Dinamo, where he was expected to fill the boots of the departed Eduardo.

• Proved a worthy replacement for the Brazilian-born Croatian international, scoring 12 league goals in his first season, a league-best tally of 16 in his second and another 14 in 2009/10, helping Dinamo to the title in each campaign; he also won two Croatian Cups and appeared three seasons running in the UEFA Cup/Europa League group stage.

• Scored his first goal for Croatia on only his second appearance – a consolation effort in a 4-1 home defeat by England in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying; it took him another 15 games before he struck for his country again but he came good on the road to UEFA EURO 2012, finding the net against Georgia, Latvia and, in the first leg of the play-off, Turkey.

• Joined Wolfsburg in summer 2010 and recovered from a poor start to score eight goals in the closing weeks and rescue the club from relegation; surpassed that tally with 12 strikes in the 2011/12 Bundesliga season, the highlight being a double in a 2-1 home win against FC Schalke 04.