Ana Maria Markovic's rise to professional football and social media stardom

Ana Maria Markovic is a Croatian international footballer who has risen through the ranks of professional football to play for Grasshoppers in the Swiss Women's Super League.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Markovic was aged 14 when she started playing football, significantly older than most who make it in the pro game.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Initially, Markovic played at FC Zürich where she shone for their U21 team, scoring seven goals in 27 appearances.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

After her time at FC Zürich came to an end, the Croat decided to move to Grasshoppers.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Markovic was first spotted by international fans after her debut for Croatia in 2021.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Like many Croatians, Markovic idolises Luka Modric, telling Swiss newspaper 20min, “Modric is definitely a great role model for me. He is a world footballer and represents Croatia.”

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Despite the attention she gets online, Markovic is a footballer first and foremost, when asked if she would prefer to be known for her looks or to sign with women’s football powerhouse Chelsea, she remarked, "Definitely the contract with Chelsea of ​​course!”

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

The Croat has become known to many as ‘the world’s most beautiful footballer’, which whilst appreciated by Markovic, is something she finds uncomfortable, saying, "They've never seen me play football and only look at the outside. I find that a great pity.”

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Whilst her footballing career is still in its early stages, Markovic has been able to carve out a huge following online, with over 2.8 million followers on Instagram.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Alongside her Instagram presence, Markovic has exploded on TikTok as well, with over 450,000 followers on the video app.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Markovic’s TikTok is a mixture of funny videos but also documenting her journey as she recovers from an ACL tear that has seen her sidelined for many months.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

The world of social media is a strange place and Markovic’s instagram seems no different, as she put it, "Sometimes funny messages come from people who write that they want to serve me and, for example, want to clean the cams of my soccer shoes after training."

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

In the footballing world, few debates are more heated than who is the GOAT, Messi or Ronaldo? Well for Markovic, she seems to have chosen her side, telling 20min, "But my absolute favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo because he's just so disciplined.” Sorry Messi fans.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Markovic is using her platform to fight for equal pay for both men’s and women’s footballers when they play for Croatia. In a video released on her Instagram account she stated, “I will always fight with all my heart for equality”.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

Like many footballers, Markovic is not content with just succeeding on the pitch as she has recently released her own vegan protein recovery drink.

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram

According to Markovic’s on website, her main aims for the future are, “My goal for the immediate future is to qualify for the Champions League as well as the European Championship and the World Cup with the Croatian national team. Advancing and bringing women's soccer closer to the general public is a personal goal for me.”

Photo: @anamxrkovic Instagram