Društvena važnost osvajanja srebra nogometne reprezentacije Hrvatske na Svjetskom prvenstvu u Rusiji 2018. godine razvidna je iz obima i karaktera dočeka koji su akterima toga uspjeha priređeni u Zagrebu i iz količine i načina medijskoga reflektiranja toga uspjeha te toga i drugih dočeka u Hrvatskoj. Polazeći od toga, ovaj prilog usredotočen je na diskurzivno oblikovanje hrvatskih nogometnih reprezentativaca kao nacionalnih heroja, a izbornika reprezentacije i kao celebrityja. Kod nogometaša je pritom indikativno premještanje fokusa s njihovih sportskih zasluga na patriotski kapital. Kod izbornika Zlatka Dalića je, pak, dodatno interesantno prerastanje ustaljenih okvira trenerskoga poziva u vidu njegova izraženoga javnog angažmana te ostvarivanja novih poslovnih aranžmana. Analizom medijskoga i javnoga diskursa u drugoj polovici 2018. i u 2019. godini pridonijet će se ujedno razumijevanju medijatizacije i celebritizacije ovdašnje kulture sporta. Pri interpretaciji medijski poduprtoga pretvaranja rada i učinaka u nogometu kao profesionalnoj djelatnosti u slavu / poznatost širih razmjera imat će se u vidu društveno-političke okolnosti u suvremenoj Hrvatskoj., 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.