Meet the world's most beautiful footballer - but don't brand her sexy

The world‘s most beautiful footballer Ana Maria Markovic is a blonde stunner who plays for Switzerland side Grasshoppers - but she revealed the tag of being sexy is not appreciated

The Croatian player has turned many heads during her career - and not just for her moves on the ball. Indeed, the 22-year-old forward, who plays for Swiss Women's Super League club Grasshopper and the Croatia national team, has amassed some 576k followers on Instagram alone. She posts pictures of her playing - along with some saucy snaps.

The Grasshopper and Croatia forward hit the headlines earlier this month after posting a string of eye-catching bikini snaps alongside her football career at both domestic and international level on Instagram, where she has 627,000 followers.

German outlet 20min interviewed the star where she was asked about a recent piece that called her a ‘blonde bombshell.’ “I liked the articles that called me the most beautiful footballer or one of the most beautiful because it makes me happy to hear that I am beautiful,” she replied.

The 22-year-old has now given an in-depth interview about her new-found fame and what that has brought, having received both praises as well as vulgar messages and pranksters trying to impact her fledgling career.

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. Especially if you have ones that do not know. But overall it wasn't that bad.”

During the interview, Markovic also named Cristiano Ronaldo as her favourite footballer due to his discipline, as well as Luka Modric and Ramona Bachmann as role models.

Having insisted that she would rather play for Chelsea than receive a modelling contract, Markovic expressed how her career comes first.

Although she likes being called the most beautiful footballer in the world, Markovic isn't happy when being called sexy out of respect for her family.