One of the highlights of the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow was undoubtedly Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a Croatian football shirt with the name "Putin" printed on the back on July 15, hours before Croatia played France in the World Cup final in Moscow.
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.
Croatia may have lost but the brave team and their endearing president will live on in public consciousness.
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Her pictures, wearing a Croatian jersey, while cheering on her team were broadcast to the world.
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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.
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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
