The media coverage of the Croatian forward often revolves around her looks.
Ana Maria Markovic has opened up on how the media neglects her qualities on the pitch.
The 22-year-old attacker plays for Grasshopper Club Zürich in Switzerland. However, most of his 580,000 followers on Instagram are not there for her footballing feats.
A Serbian newspaper recently described Markovic as the ‘world’s sexiest footballer’, a title which the striker believes is reductive.
She told Swiss publication 20 Minuten: “I liked the articles that called me the most beautiful footballer because it makes me happy to hear that I am beautiful.
“But then newspaper articles appeared in which I was described as the sexiest footballer. I didn’t like that. Also, because of my family.
“I think you have to be careful what you write about people… But overall it wasn’t that bad.”
She added: “A lot of people wrote to me pretending to be managers, and I know exactly what they want from me,” she said.
“They’ve never seen me play football and only look at the outside. I find that a great pity.
“I think such people should find out more beforehand and see what I can do in terms of football.
“Many have also made me feel like I’m pretty and that just because they could make something out of me on social media and they want to make money with it.”
Asked about her recent call-up for the Croatian national team, she responded: “With the national team itself everything went smoothly.
“They gave me a professional feeling and also studied my footballing performance through YouTube videos.
“Those responsible at the Croatian federation did a very good job.”
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