Ana Maria Markovic, the 26-year-old striker dubbed the 'world's most beautiful footballer', has signed for Croatian giants Hajduk Split, marking her fifth club in three years.
Markovic moves back to Europe after a spell in the United States with USL Super League side Brooklyn FC. She previously played for Portuguese clubs SF Damaiense and Braga, and Swiss side Grasshopper Zurich.
Fans unimpressed with performances
Markovic shared a video on Instagram to her 2.7 million followers of her walking out in Hajduk's stadium, signing her contract and appearing in training, captioned: “New chapter”. However, fans have not been impressed with her recent performances.
According to football stats page Soccerdonna, she last scored a goal in February 2023 for Grasshopper. Since then, she has played three full seasons, including at Brooklyn FC where she registered just one assist in 23 matches.
One user commented: “Does anyone even know when she last scored a goal? It’s all just for the photo op and nothing else…” Another said: “Good advertising, but zero points in terms of gameplay.” A third claimed: “I’ve seen her play a few times—I won’t comment; better not! And if my 'expert opinion' isn't enough for you, go ahead and look at her stats—and let me remind you beforehand that she’s a forward!”
Serious injury derailed career
Markovic has been trying to regain form since suffering a severe torn ACL, torn meniscus and a broken lower leg in March 2023 during a match against FC Zurich. She underwent lengthy surgery and rehabilitation, documenting her progress on social media.
In an interview with Red Bull, she said: “I knew my whole knee was wrecked. I cried for four days straight.” She criticised the pitch conditions that day: “The pitch was practically unplayable that day; in some places, they had simply spread sand on it. And during warm-up, I jokingly said: 'I hope nobody gets injured today.’”
She added: “I regularly attend conferences and talks because I want to open people's eyes and show them: Hey, we need help, and we can't get it if we're left to fend for ourselves.”
