In 2020, Stepančić underwent surgery on his right ankle. Gol.hr reported that initially the player thought he could avoid surgery, but the pain was unbearable, so surgery became the best option. In 2020, Jabuka TV reported that "the great right winger could miss the World Cup in Egypt in January next year due to his long recovery." Stepančić wasn't able to recover in time, and did not participate to the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship. Stepančić's absence due to injury, together with those of Igor Karačić and Marin Šego, put coach Červar and the Croatian national team in trouble.&lt;ref name="croatianews"&gt;