All eyes will be on England vs Croatia on Wednesday evening as the Three Lions kick off their World Cup campaign. However, attention might shift from the pitch to the stands if Izabel Kovacic, wife of Manchester City and Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic, is present.
Who is Izabel Kovacic?
The Croatian former supermodel began dating the ex-Chelsea star six years ago. Izabel is the founder of the fashion brand Lunilou and has followed her husband across Europe during his stints at Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and now Manchester City.
Izabel boasts over 400,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares glimpses of her business ventures. She co-founded an eco-friendly organic baby products brand in 2015 and launched her own sustainable luxury fashion line, IZAKOVA.
Marriage and Family
Kovacic married Izabel in June 2017 in a lavish ceremony in Zagreb, Croatia, at the same church where they met. The wedding was attended by 600 guests, including fellow Croatia international Ivan Perisic. The couple has two children: Ivan, born in 2020, and Luna, born in 2025.
During Kovacic's time in Spain, Izabel became a media darling and was often seen cheering him on. The Spanish press dubbed her a "Shakira-lookalike" due to her long, blonde, curly hair.
Kovacic's Tribute to His Wife
After scoring twice in Manchester City's thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham in 2024, Kovacic dedicated his performance to his pregnant wife. He said: "It means a lot because my wife is pregnant, so it was great to get some goals for the little one."
The Match Ahead
England will face the 2018 World Cup finalists in Dallas, Texas, in a repeat of the 2018 semi-final, which Croatia won. England manager Thomas Tuchel highlighted the experienced midfield duo of Kovacic and Luka Modric as the "heartbeat" of the Croatian side. "I think it's quite obvious they still have the core midfield, with Mateo and Luka Modric," Tuchel said. "They have experience; they have experience in tournaments. They have a very experienced coach. They have traditionally strong national teams, and that's what we face."
