Here’s Why Football Fans Around The World Are Praising Croatian President Kolinda

50-year-old Kolinda won millions of hearts after she hugged players from both sides to congratulate them for featuring in the historic final

By: Karan Nanda |
July 16, 2018 4:04 pm

Though the Croatian football team failed to lift their maiden FIFA World Cup trophy after bowing to France 2-4 in the finals at the jampacked Moscow stadium on July 15, their president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic is winning the internet for her heart-warming gesture for the players of both the countries during the presentation ceremony.

Post the high-voltage clash, 50-year-old Kolinda won millions of hearts after she hugged players from both sides to congratulate them for featuring in the historic final.

She even visited France team’s locker room with French president Emmanuel Macron to congratulate them for winning their second FIFA World Cup title after 20 long years. Croatian president even clicked pictures with the winners.

Putin. Macron. Infantino. Grabar-Kitarovic.

There were some big-name visitors in France and Croatia’s locker rooms after the #WorldCup final

Credit: @Ruptly pic.twitter.com/4aYIzbZvtq

— Goal UK (@GoalUK) July 16, 2018

The President of France is 40. The President of Croatia is 50. They are young, energetic & inspirational. Zvavo wamwe. Meanwhile, in our part of the world we are stuck in the past. We have people of yesterday actually fighting hard to lead tomorrow. Shame!
Let’s turn the tide. pic.twitter.com/tPRdwFvssI

— Patson Dzamara (@PatsonDzamara) July 16, 2018

Hats off to President of #Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. She attended each #Croatia match at the World Cup, travelled in economy class & sat with the fans in the stadium. She refused to take any pay for her days not at work.
Now that’s leadership.
#WorldCupFinal pic.twitter.com/1RuGs2xDsg

— Gaurav Goel__ (@goelgauravbjp) July 16, 2018

Wonderful women make events memorable! Stood by her team in joy and tough moments. In heavy she rain hugged and bielded each player. In a jersey not suits. Booked economy class not a private jet. She won the heart of the world. And her tears on Modric? She took Croatia to the top pic.twitter.com/YAIoPFmAUR

— Wakili Ochieng (@ItsOchieng) July 16, 2018

Kolinda became an internet sensation after a video of her victory dance with Croatian players following their win against Russia in the quarterfinals went viral.

In 2015, Kolinda was elected Croatia’s fourth president making her the first woman to ever hold the office in the eastern European country.