Named captain of Croatia after Domagoj Duvnjak’s international retirement, Ivan Martinović has become one of the best right backs in the world, with a fantastic penchant for goals, as well as an incredible overview of the game.

At the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, Martinović lifted Croatia to an unexpected final, being the team’s top scorer, with 41 goals, as he continued picking up his form from 2024, when he became the clear starter on that position for the silver medallists at the World Championship. He also provided 24 assists and played a key role in Croatia’s defence in the competition.

At club level, the All-Star right back of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship had an eventful year, moving from German side Rhein-Neckar Löwen to Hungarian powerhouse Veszprém HC in a bombshell transfer. At the 2025 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, Martinović had 14 goals, helping the Hungarian side finish second, after losing the final against FC Barcelona.