Chloe 'clutch' Kelly always delivers in big moments and stacks up to England greats in any sport | OneFootball

Kelly again delivered when it mattered most and wrote history as the Lionesses won Euro 2025

Chloe Kelly stood in front of the England fans, arms out wide, and waited for her team-mates to mob her.

Not for the first time at Euros 2025, Kelly was England’s hero as she delivered when it mattered most.

There was almost the hint of a smile on her face as she walked up to take the winning penalty against Spain, a sense that she was both revelling in and relishing the moment.

You would not have known Kelly had missed three penalties in training the day before, or that her spot-kick against Italy in the semi-final had been saved before she poked home the rebound.

Instead, the 27-year-old was the calmest person in Basel, smashing home the penalty that ensured England made history by retaining their European crown.

Kelly smashed home the decisive penalty against Spain

AFP via Getty Images

“Sometimes you miss, sometimes you score, but I was adamant I was not missing two on the bounce,” said Kelly.

It was an emphatic penalty and the fastest goal of the tournament, with data in the ball clocking the strike at 110km/h.

For Kelly, it capped off a remarkable seven months.

There are many inspiring stories among these Lionesses, but few rival that of Kelly’s.

In January she was ready to take a break from football, so unhappy at Manchester City that she had lost her love for the game.

Kelly had started just one Women’s Super League match all season by that point. Posting on social media helped force through a loan move to Arsenal, but if that had not materialised, Kelly was prepared to step away from the game she loved.

It is why she was in tears at the final whistle on Sunday, hugging her family who were sat in the front row.

They were the ones who had stuck by Kelly when she was ready to quit, and this was a dream ending to a season that had for so long threatened to be a nightmare.

Kelly was arguably the player of the tournament at Euro 2025

Peter Byrne/PA Wire

“I am so grateful to be out at the back end,” said Kelly. “But if that’s a story to tell someone that maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don’t last - and just around the corner was a Champions League final. I won that, and now a Euros final, I’ve won that. So thank you to everyone that wrote me off, I’m grateful.”

England will be grateful too because, quite simply, where would they be without Kelly?

It is hard to think of an English sportsman or woman who routinely delivers in the big moments quite like Kelly. Ben Stokes, perhaps, or, going back further, Jonny Wilkinson.

Kelly has shown she is a mentality monster, and the winger was unlucky not to be named player of the tournament.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati scooped the award, but it could easily have gone to Kelly after she came off the bench to change the course of all three of England’s knockout games.

Kelly has made a habit of delivering when England need her

Getty Images

She had a goal or assist in each of those games, and while it may get lost in the aftermath of her penalty heroics, Kelly’s cross for Alessia Russo’s equaliser on Sunday was perfect.

Russo joked afterwards that she is not good in the air, but it didn’t matter when Kelly delivered a ball like that right onto her head.

This was just the latest example of Kelly coming up trumps for England when they needed her.

Three years ago, she scored the winner in the final of Euro 2022. The following year, she netted the winning penalty in the inaugural Finalissima, and months later delivered again when England squeezed past Nigeria in a nervy World Cup shootout.

“I think it says something about the team environment, and it says a lot about her character,” said Sarina Wiegman. “Everyone brings something different, and she brings this.”

Growing up in Ealing, Kelly would often get the bus to Wembley Stadium when matches like the FA Cup final were on, just to buy a programme.

Now, she is the one making history and delivering moments that will inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

“I never thought I’d be in this position in January,” she said. “To be here and make special memories is an incredible feeling. It’s been an exciting journey. It has been a rollercoaster.”