When the Croatian national team won the silver medal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, this was not only a great sporting achievement, but also one of huge political significance to the entire nation. The significance of this event to the Croatian people was clearly made apparent through the parade organized in Zagreb upon the national team’s return from Russia, as well as the media coverage of the team’s success.This paper deals with the discursive construction of Croatian players in various media, where they are portrayed as national heroes. It also deals with the more specific discursive construction of the national team’s coach, Zlatko Dalić, who has celebrity status within the public sphere. Players’ patriotic capital appears to have been far more interesting to the media than their deeds on the pitch. Zlatko Dalić, on the other hand, has outgrown his role as football coach due to his broad public engagement and new work arrangements.Using an analysis of media and public discourse between mid-2018 and the end of 2019, this paper will also attempt to clarify the mediatization and celebritization processes in Croatia’s sports culture. The interpretation of how professional work in football can transform into work in terms of celebrity culture with the aid of cultural intermediaries will emphasize the impact of the social and political context in Croatia.