In a stunning revelation that underscores the grit and determination fueling England's triumphant defense of their Women’s European Championship title, Lucy Bronze, the stalwart Chelsea defender, disclosed she played the entire Euro 2025 tournament with a fractured tibia in her left leg. The 33-year-old, who has long been hailed as a paragon of resilience and leadership, revealed this after England's nail-biting penalty shootout victory over Spain in the final held in Basel, Switzerland, on July 27, 2025.
Bronze’s journey through the Euros was nothing short of heroic. She featured prominently in all six of England’s matches, clocking 598 minutes on the pitch—only surpassed by teammates Keira Walsh, Alex Greenwood, and Hannah Hampton. Despite the excruciating pain from her fractured tibia, an injury she had been managing since at least May 30, 2025, following a Nations League game against Portugal, Bronze never let it show. Her secret was kept under wraps until the final whistle in Basel.
Her toughness was on full display during the quarter-final clash against Sweden on July 17, 2025. In a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to force extra time, Bronze was seen self-strapping her right leg during a pause in play, a testament to her determination to push through the pain barrier. She then stepped up to confidently slam home England's winning penalty in the shootout, a moment that epitomized her unyielding spirit.
Against Spain in the final, the physical toll of the tournament became evident. Bronze limped through 105 minutes of intense play, before being forced off at half-time of extra time due to a fresh injury to her right knee. She left the field visibly emotional, with tears marking the painful sacrifice she had made for her country. Post-match, her right knee was heavily bandaged as she watched the shootout unfold, hopping on one leg during the jubilant celebrations.
Speaking candidly to BBC Sport after the victory, Bronze said, "I’ve actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, but no one knew, and then I’ve hurt my knee today on my other leg. That’s why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game, because I’ve been in a lot of pain. If that is what it takes to play for England, that is what I’ll do." She added, "It’s very painful, but I’m going to party." This statement perfectly encapsulates her fierce commitment and joyous relief at the culmination of a grueling campaign.
Bronze’s performance throughout the tournament solidified her status as an icon of English women's football. She now holds the record for the most appearances at a major tournament for England, with 36 caps, surpassing the previous record held by Jill Scott. This Euro 2025 victory marked her 26th career trophy, a testament to her sustained excellence at both club and international levels.
England’s path to the title was far from straightforward. The Lionesses suffered a shocking opening defeat to France and faced precarious moments throughout the knockout stages, leading for less than five minutes in total across their three elimination matches. Yet, as Bronze emphasized, "We never lost belief in ourselves. There was a lot of noise on the outside, but we stuck together and dug deep. To win on penalties is an amazing feeling, but to lose on penalties is the worst feeling."
Her coach, Sarina Wiegman, who has now won the European Championship three times consecutively since 2017, lavished praise on Bronze’s "crazy mentality." Wiegman remarked, "She had some issues with her tibia, so of course we tried to manage that. When you play 120 minutes, you’re not managing it, are you? The whole team has a great mentality but she has a crazy mentality, it’s unbelievable." Wiegman also described the tournament as "the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played," highlighting England’s resilience in the face of adversity.
Former England teammates echoed the admiration for Bronze’s indomitable spirit. Ellen White described her as "not human," adding, "To say she has just won a major tournament on a fractured tibia, that is not normal. That pain must have been insane and she smashed that ball in for the Sweden game." Steph Houghton, another former captain, called Bronze "an absolute legend of women’s football," praising her winning mentality and leadership that continually propelled the team forward.
Alongside Bronze’s heroics, Chloe Kelly emerged as a transformative figure in the final, scoring the winning penalty that sealed England’s successful title defense. Kelly’s journey from career uncertainty earlier in the year to European champion is a compelling story of perseverance. She credited Wiegman for believing in her, saying, "She’s bloody amazing. She’s an incredible woman; what she’s done for this country, we should all be so grateful for. What she’s done for me individually, she gave me hope when I probably didn’t have any." Kelly’s winning kick capped a tournament filled with dramatic comebacks and showcased the depth of talent in the Lionesses squad.
The Football Association has announced a grand homecoming celebration for the team, featuring an open-top bus procession along the Mall in London on July 29, 2025, culminating in a public ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace. The event promises to be a jubilant occasion for fans to honor the team’s remarkable achievement.
Despite the heartbreak of defeat, Spain coach Montse Tomé acknowledged England’s grit, stating, "I think this team deserved more. I feel we worked hard during a long time to reach this moment, to reach this final against a high-level national team as England... England is an excellent national team." Her words reflect the high quality and competitive spirit that characterized the final.
Lucy Bronze’s revelation of playing through a fractured tibia adds a remarkable chapter to the annals of sports resilience and highlights the extraordinary sacrifices athletes make in pursuit of glory. Her story, intertwined with England’s dramatic Euro 2025 campaign, will inspire generations and cements her legacy as one of the greats in women’s football history.
