Croatia's Most Famous Fan Meets Rafael Leão and Reveals the Player Who Impressed Her Most

Ivana Knoll, Croatia's most famous fan, once again made her presence felt at a national team match during the World Cup, cheering from the stands of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for their game against Ghana.

The 33-year-old Croatian gained significant social media traction for her appearances in the stands at major football tournaments, always sporting her country's iconic red and white checkerboard pattern. Her fame began at the 2018 World Cup and truly exploded during the tournament in Qatar.

This time, she was seen in blue leggings, a white top, and a checkered tie.

Currently, Knoll balances her career as an influencer with her work as a DJ, performing under the stage name KnollDoll.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Knoll detailed her World Cup routine, which involves attending fan zones the day before matches, watching the games themselves, and performing DJ sets in the cities where Croatia plays.

The influencer explained that this marks her fourth World Cup appearance. "It's already my routine. Four World Cups in 16 years. In Brazil, I was very, very young," she recalled. "Russia was special because we reached the final, and I was already going viral from the first game. Then, in Qatar, I exploded globally, which I never expected. And now it's here, in the country where I live, as I moved to Miami four years ago. It's incredible."

Ivana singled out Erling Haaland as the player who impressed her most personally, placing him in a league of his own both on and off the pitch. When asked which player she most enjoys watching, her answer focused on the Manchester City striker, with whom she spent time in Ibiza in 2023. "Honestly, on a personal level, the one I met and I think is the only player I truly like as a person is Haaland," she revealed.

"I know Vinícius Júnior, I met Haaland, and I know Rafael Leão. They are all excellent people, you know? So, I can't say anything negative about any of them. But the one who impressed me the most was Haaland and his friends. I think they are very nice people," she stated.

Regarding Croatia's prospects in the tournament, speaking before it was known that Portugal would be their opponent in the Round of 16, she admitted: "We haven't shown much so far in this World Cup. I agree with that, but we can surprise. With us... it's always difficult, penalties. You know how we are, so anything can happen."