"The most beautiful female footballer in the world" signs with a new team — and faces backlash

Ana Maria Markovic, often dubbed "the most beautiful female footballer in the world" on social media, has opened a new chapter in her career by signing with the Croatian club Hajduk Split. The 26-year-old forward, who boasts over 2.7 million Instagram followers, shared a video of her arrival at the stadium, the contract signing, and her first training session with the caption: "A new chapter."

The move to Hajduk is Markovic's fifth stop in three years. She recently played for Brooklyn FC in the American women's league, having previously represented Damaiense and Braga in Portugal, as well as Grasshopper Zurich in Switzerland. Despite her massive social media presence, many fans have questioned her professional ability. According to Soccerdonna data, Markovic has not scored a goal since February 2023. Over the last three seasons, she has recorded zero goals, and in her final season with Brooklyn, she managed only one assist in 23 appearances.

Critical reactions have been widespread on social media:

"Does anyone even know when she last scored? It's all for the pictures," one user wrote. Another added: "Excellent PR, but zero professional contribution," while a third quipped: "I've seen her play a few times. Better if I don't comment... Look at her statistics, and remember she is a forward."

Markovic is working to recover from a severe injury sustained in March 2023 during a match against Zurich, where she tore her cruciate ligament and meniscus and broke her tibia. She underwent surgery and a long rehabilitation, documenting her journey back to the pitch online. In a previous interview, she recalled:

"I knew my whole knee was destroyed. I cried for four days in a row."

She also criticized the pitch conditions during that match: "The pitch was almost unplayable, and in some places, they just spread sand. Even during the warm-up, I jokingly said that I hope no one gets injured. Male players would not have played in such conditions." Markovic, who has 21 caps for the Croatian national team, added that she continues to advocate for better conditions in women's football: "I participate in conferences and lectures because I want to open people's eyes and show that we need help. We cannot move forward if we remain alone."