Filip Pavić, a 16-year-old center-back, is on the verge of Bayern's first team. Coach Vincent Kompany sees him as the greatest defensive talent, and he is predicted to secure a spot among the Vatreni at Euro 2028.
Croatian football fans are eagerly following the rise of Filip Pavić, a 16-year-old center-back whom experts already describe as one of the greatest talents the country has ever produced. The youngster, who has already debuted for Bayern's first team in the Champions League, is now on the brink of another milestone-his first minutes in the Bundesliga.
On Friday, August 7, 2026, Pavić got another chance to play for the senior squad of the Bavarian giants. In a friendly in Hong Kong, where Bayern defeated Aston Villa 2-1, the young Croatian entered the game in the 76th minute, replacing German international Jonathan Tah. On the pitch at that time were also other well-known names, including Josip Stanišić, who came on at halftime, and South Korean Kim, who scored the opening goal.
This match is just a continuation of the teenager's meteoric rise, having already become the youngest debutant in Bayern's Champions League history this spring. He played 18 minutes then, and it is now clear he will get a chance in the domestic league as well.
Coach Vincent Kompany, himself a legendary center-back, has long recognized Pavić's potential and has integrated him into the first-team setup. According to information from Sportske novosti, obtained from the Vatreni's coaching staff, where Ivica Olić has particularly strong contacts at Bayern, Kompany will say that Pavić is the greatest defensive talent he has ever seen. He, along with his assistants, is working extra with the young Croatian to refine all his strengths.
The plan for Pavić is clear. Although he will officially play for the second team in the Regional League, he will also be part of the first-team squad. The question is how much Kompany will even let him play for the second team. It is estimated that during the autumn, he could occasionally play for the first team, and in the spring, then already 17 years old (his birthday is January 19), even more. If development goes according to plan, by the 2027/28 season, he could find himself in the starting eleven even in the toughest matches.
Pavić comes from a modest Croatian family that moved to Germany in search of a better life. Despite pressure and opportunities, he has made a firm decision to play for Croatia, not Germany. According to reports, this has caused no issues at Bayern. For the club, it is irrelevant; they see him as one of their strongest projects.
The young center-back completed the entire pre-season with the first team and played in as many as five matches. Of those, he started three times and came off the bench twice. He has already surpassed his compatriot Roko Mijatović, who is two years older and also a talented center-back, in the hierarchy.
At the club, they predict a world-class career for him and compare him to Spanish wonderkid Pau Cubarsí. The path from elite talent to great player is tricky, but Pavić has all the prerequisites for success. Unlike some former Croatian prospects at Bayern, such as Gabriel Vidović and Lovre Zvonarek, a loan scenario is not predicted for him. If Bayern sees a player in someone, they offer the youngster a chance in the real lineup.
If his development goes according to plan, he could already be among the Vatreni at Euro 2028. He is described as a complete center-back whose greatest strength is defending his own penalty area and goal, something the Croatian national team currently desperately needs. The next challenge for the Bavarians is the traditional Telecom Cup on the Assumption in Munich, followed by the official start of the season. They open the Bundesliga on August 28 against Stuttgart, and before that, they face Borussia Dortmund in the Supercup.
