The recent World Cup match between Portugal and Croatia not only determined which team would advance to the Round of 16 but also put a professional soccer couple’s relationship on the line. Croatian soccer player Ana Maria Markovic posted on Instagram before the game, "Someone’s sleeping on the couch tonight," signaling a playful bet with her Portuguese soccer player boyfriend, Tomas Ribeiro.

Markovic and Ribeiro watched the match together, with Markovic noting she was "literally the only Croatian here" while surrounded by fans rooting for Portugal, according to The Sun. The game, held in Toronto, Ontario, ended with Croatia losing 2-1 to Portugal, a result that was reportedly made harder for Markovic to accept given the environment.

Markovic, once dubbed the "World's Most Beautiful Soccer Player," currently plays for Brooklyn FC of the USL Super League. The couple’s bet highlighted the personal stakes alongside the professional ones, as the outcome meant Ribeiro would get "kicked out of bed" and sleep on the couch.

The match also featured a controversial moment when VAR denied Croatia's game-tying goal, helping Cristiano Ronaldo lead Portugal to the next round.

Sources