World Cup 2018: Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic wins everyone's heart with her super-sporting attitude

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic became one of the most talked about world leaders as Croatia lost to France in an attacking football display in the 2018 World Cup final.

 

Her pictures, wearing a Croatian jersey, while cheering on her team were broadcast to the world. 

After the match, she was her effusive self, giving hugs to players from both sides and sharing light moments with France president Macron, who was on the verge of exploding with joy.

Grabar- Kitarovic was born on April 29, 1968 in Rijeka in the Croatian part of Yugoslavia. She studied for a year at Los Alamos High School in New Mexico, and also studied in Zagreb, Vienna, Washington DC and Harvard, before completing her doctoral studies in her home country.

Read: Who won the Golden Boot?

She is also a multi-linguist, fluent in Croatian, English, Spanish and Portuguese, and also understands German, French and Italian. The world sure needs more leaders like her. 

Check out pics of her celebration

How Twitter reacted: 

 

 

#FRACRO Photo of the day.... President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and President of France Emmanuel Macron after Croatia's first goal. real sport spirit. pic.twitter.com/4x4tEmwrv6

— Krishna Mohan Tiwari (@tiwarikrishna05) July 15, 2018

#CRO the world needs more love and more people like you Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic congratulation #Croacia pic.twitter.com/W4ER0bn9FS

— HEAVEN (@Knightheavens) July 15, 2018

find yourself someone who looks at you like Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović looks at Luka Modric pic.twitter.com/M8j4J29hts

— Ea-nasir (@LeonardEctric1) July 15, 2018

It is pouring and everyone has an umbrella over them except for Croatian president, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic—the only woman. #WorldCupFinals pic.twitter.com/oX734N3ghl

— Nancy Wang Yuen (@nancywyuen) July 15, 2018

Just read up on Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović's education. She's more qualified to be the US president than the actual US president.

— STANLEY CAPS (@K1ngJeremy) July 15, 2018

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of Croatia.

1. She did not miss a single match.
2. Travelled in economy class.
3. Always in the stands with the fans.
4. Values football.
5. Loves everyone.



#WorldCup #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/kdG3d31qL0

— Messi World (@MessiWorId) July 15, 2018

Absolutely the Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and her gracious interaction with French President Macron and her entire national team... Very cool.@EmmanuelMacron @KolindaGK pic.twitter.com/JOMrdqIBVD

— The Wizard of Oz (@Jokintino) July 15, 2018

Great photo of French president Emmanuel Macron celebrating their World Cup win.  pic.twitter.com/qxd5aFvmpc

— Football Daily (@footballdailyuk) July 15, 2018

Get you a man who looks at you like Macron looks at Pogba pic.twitter.com/iaMeyXuuCe

— Louise Reynolds (@yesthatispaint) July 15, 2018

Talk about Russian hospitality. #Putin under the only umbrella while Macron & Kitarović soaking. #Worldcup2018Russia pic.twitter.com/9R2hKJb4ik

— Tara Kangarlou (@tarakangarlou) July 15, 2018

I think I have a new role model.
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović Croatia's President is teaching the world to be open and to stay humble. This is how a president supposed to be. This is how a true leader supposed to be.Congratulations for this #Croatia#WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/12RBncaBrC

— Abhijit paul (@abhijitfloyd) July 15, 2018

Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović wearing her countries home kit while hugging the players from both teams in the pouring rain is one of the best moments from the #WorldCup

— Jason Paugh (@jpscyther11) July 15, 2018

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović:

1. Wears her country’s kit to show support (like an actual fan).

2. Flew coach to get to the World Cup.

3. Was tearing up after hugging Modrić.

4. Don’t need no stinking umbrella like the men.#CRO #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/OWFVl3xiHw

— Russ McCuen (@russmccuen) July 15, 2018

And the winner in the France Vs Croatia clash is Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of Croatia. #WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/a9AA6Dh12E

— Maverick (@Miali_Mkenya) July 15, 2018

#WorldCupFinal#Croatia

In my opinion the world cup winner is this woman

Croatia's President
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic pic.twitter.com/fwBhsWUChW

— PicPublic (@PicPublic) July 15, 2018

 

 

 

Earlier, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a Croatian soccer shirt with the name "Putin" printed on the back on Sunday, hours before Croatia play France in the World Cup final in Moscow.

Croatia has been caught up in soccer fever after the Balkan nation of 4.2 million people swept aside more fancied opponents to reach its first ever World Cup final, which Russia is hosting this year.

Grabar-Kitarovic has, herself, entered into the spirit of the occasion, travelling to Russia to watch matches and dressing in the colours of the national flag. Croatia knocked Russia's team out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

At a Kremlin meeting, Putin congratulated the Croatian president on the Croatian team's performance.

"I'm sure we will see a beautiful game today," he said. Grabar-Kitarovic thanked Putin for what she said was the successful organisation of the competition.

Putin presented her with a bouquet of flowers, while she gave the Russian leader the Croatian national shirt.

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Russia's President Putin for his "perfect" organisation of the World Cup as the two leaders prepared to watch the final today.

Macron and his wife Brigitte met the Russian leader at the Kremlin today afternoon before the match between France and Croatia at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

Macron told Putin he wanted "to congratulate you as the organising country for how well this event has passed off. It has not only been watched around the world, but the whole world has come here" to watch it.

"To do it in safe conditions and with everything going perfectly was a challenge, so well done for that." Putin congratulated France for having reached the final.

"I am sure we will see an interesting, intense, close match which millions of spectators across the world will enjoy," he said.

With inputs from PTI