The recent match between Portugal and Croatia held significant importance not only for advancing to the Round of 16 in the World Cup but also for the personal stakes of professional soccer couple Ana Maria Markovic and Tomas Ribeiro. The Croatia-Croatia rivalry had an added dimension, with the outcome determining who would sleep on the couch.
Croatian soccer player Ana Maria Markovic humorously addressed this situation through an Instagram post stating, “Someone’s sleeping on the couch tonight.” She shared images of herself alongside her Portuguese soccer player boyfriend Tomas Ribeiro. In a light-hearted exchange, Ribeiro commented on the post, “Guess who’s gonna be?”
The couple donned opposing jerseys and prepared to watch the game together. For Ribeiro, the situation was a catch-22. Victory for his team meant advancing, yet he would face the consequence of losing his spot in the bed at home. The scenario became tougher as Markovic, known as the “World’s Most Beautiful Soccer Player,” attended the game surrounded by Portugal fans.
During the match, Croatia found itself on the losing end with a 2-1 defeat. Markovic expressed her feelings from the venue, noting her solitary status as a Croatian supporter amid enthusiastic Portugal fans, as reported by The Sun. The ambivalence of the environment heightened the challenge of accepting Croatia’s loss.
Following the match, Markovic confirmed she had the bed to herself, indicating the playful bet had been settled in her favor. The defender, suspecting the outcome, hinted at the potential future support for another team, Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa, against Spain. The dilemma remains whether to support Ribeiro’s team out of partnership solidarity or to perpetuate their light-hearted rivalry.
Sean Joseph writes for OutKick.