In August 2014, Budimir joined German club FC St. Pauli of the 2. Bundesliga on a four-year deal until 2018. St. Pauli had to pay a transfer fee believed to be around €900,000. In an interview on Budimir's signing, former Croatian international Jurica Vranješ described him as "tall, strong in the air, and reliable in combinations" and compared his style to Dimitar Berbatov. Budimir had a tough time at St. Pauli, scoring only one goal in 20 appearances for the club.
Crotone and Sampdoria
On 1 September 2015, Budimir was loaned out to Italian club Crotone for the remainder of the season. He made his Crotone debut on 7 September 2015, in a 4–0 loss to Cagliari Calcio, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Pietro De Giorgio. In March 2016, Crotone exercised their €1 million buyout option on the player. Budimir ended the season as Crotone's top goalscorer with 16 goals in 40 Serie B appearances, as they were promoted as runners-up to Cagliari; this tally was fourth for goalscorers in the whole league season.
In June 2016, ahead of Crotone's debut Serie A season, Sampdoria of the same league activated Budimir's release clause believed to be in the region of €1.8 million, and the player signed a deal ending in mid-2020. A year later, he was sent back to Crotone on a one-year loan with obligation to buy. The obligation was fulfilled by now relegated Crotone at the end of the season, and he remained in the club on a permanent contract.
Mallorca
On 15 January 2019, Budimir moved on loan to Spanish club Mallorca. He scored his first goal for the Balearic club on 3 February as a Panenka penalty kick in a 2–0 home win over AD Alcorcón, later being sent off. On 27 June, after achieving promotion to La Liga – he scored the opening goal as they overturned a 2–0 first-leg deficit to defeat Deportivo de La Coruña 3–2 on aggregate in the play-off final – he signed a permanent deal for a €2.2 million fee.
During the 2019–20 season Budimir scored 13 goals, which also placed him as the 8th best 2019–20 La Liga top scorer.[citation needed]
Osasuna
On 5 October 2020, following Mallorca's relegation from La Liga, Budimir was loaned to top-tier side CA Osasuna for the 2020–21 season. On 7 June 2021, Osasuna announced the signing of Budimir on a permanent deal until June 2025. In the 2023–24 season, he became the top scorer for his club, as he also set a new personal best in La Liga by scoring 17 goals.
On 16 January 2025, Budimir scored a brace in a 3–2 away win over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey, becoming the club's all-time leading foreign goalscorer with 60 goals, surpassing previous record of Jan Urban. On 2 March, he scored a penalty in a 3–3 draw against Valencia, surpassing Sabino Andonegui[es]'s long-standing record of 57 La Liga goals for Osasuna. He finished the 2024–25 season with 21 goals, setting a new personal best and eclipsing his previous season's tally. He concluded the 2025–26 season with 17 league goals, finishing third in the La Liga scoring charts behind only Kylian Mbappé and Vedat Muriqi.
International career
On 27 August 2020, during pre-season training, Budimir was called up by the Croatia national team coach Zlatko Dalić for September Nations League clashes against Portugal and France. He made his national team debut on 7 October in a friendly 2–1 victory over Switzerland, providing Mario Pašalić with an assist for the winning goal. He scored his debut goal on 11 November in a friendly 3–3 draw with Turkey.
Budimir was a member of Croatia's squad that finished third at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He appeared twice as a substitute – in the round of 16 against Japan and the quarter-final against Brazil.
On 21 November 2023, Budimir scored the only goal of Croatia's 1–0 win over Armenia to qualify the nation for the UEFA Euro 2024.
On 18 May 2026, Budimir was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory against Panama in the second group-stage match, becoming the oldest Croatian player to score at a World Cup at 34 years and 336 days old.
Personal life
Budimir's family comes from the village of Ozimica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he was born in Zenica as it was the nearest town with an adequate hospital. Fleeing the war, the family moved to Croatia when Budimir was 6 months old. He was raised in Velika Gorica in Turopolje, where he eventually met his wife Monika.
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 18 October 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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