Footballers have long been known to be the heartthrobs of the sports scene – with famous celebrity crushes including Beckham, Messi and Ronaldo – but now a new, fierce contender has emerged following the Lionesses’ historic feat at the Euros last night.
As England defeated Spain 3-1 nail-biting penalties on Sunday, fans couldn’t believe the shocking post match interview in which right-back star Lucy Bronze revealed that she had been playing the whole tournament with a fractured tibia.
It’s not the first time during this year’s UEFA run that the 33-year-old had viewers obsessed.
She also became the subject of many a viral TikTok after tending to her own hamstring injury after seeing that paramedics were preoccupied tending to other players.
As the squad faced-off Sweden earlier this month, audiences went wild at the moment, dubbing it ‘the most Lucy Bronze thing they’ve ever seen’.
‘She kills me,’ one penned, while another agreed, writing: ‘Casually strapping up her own hamstring like it’s whatever.’
A third wrote: ‘It’s the first time I‘ve seen a bandage look cool.’
Elsewhere, one commented: ‘Strapped herself up, then took a must score penalty and smashed it home. Bada** moment.’
It’s not the first time during this year’s UEFA run that the 33-year-old had viewers obsessed. She also became the subject of many a viral TikTok after tending to her own hamstring injury after seeing that paramedics were preoccupied tending to other players
On social media, people also shared clips, many joking about being mesmerised by the viral moment
In another, @baronessbt quipped that her girlfriend ‘hasn’t been the same since Lucy Bronze self-strap’
On social media, people also shared clips, joking about being mesmerised by the viral moment.
‘Girls are like “I needed this” and it’s literally just watching clips of Lucy Bronze strapping her own leg on repeat,’ @beccasianh shared.
In another, couple account @mim_elss posted a clip saying: ‘When I go to see my girlfriend but she’s watching edits of Lucy Bronze “self taping”.’
In another, @baronessbt quipped that her girlfriend ‘hasn’t been the same since Lucy Bronze self-strap’.
As if this wasn’t impressive enough, on Sunday Lucy revealed she had been smiling through pain for the entirety of the Euros -with an injury she had kept secret until after the final.
She was taken off at half-time in extra time during Sunday’s final, but when asked about the new knee injury she picked up during the game, the athlete casually disclosed that she had already been playing through far worse.
‘I have actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia,’ she told BBC Sport. ‘And then I have hurt my knee on my other leg.
‘That’s why I got a lot of praise from the girls after the Sweden game, as I’ve been in a lot of pain. If that’s what it takes to play for England, that’s what I’ll do. Very painful.’
As England defeated Spain 3-1 nail-biting penalties on Sunday, fans couldn’t believe the shocking post match interview in which right-back star Lucy Bronze (pictured) revealed that she had been playing the whole tournament with a fractured tibia
The pro is known to have an impressive set of skills, speaking English, Portuguese, Spanish and French
The pro is known to have an impressive set of skills, speaking English, Portuguese, Spanish and French. Speaking to She’s a Baller , goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was reflecting at the viral moment Lucy was ‘doing her own physio’ at the England versus Sweden game
It sparked an outpouring of disbelief and admiration across social media, with supporters calling the player a ‘beast’.
‘She really said pain is temporary but trophies are forever,’ one wrote. ‘Built different doesn’t even cover it at this point.’
It’s not just Lucy’s tough-as-steel athletics that has people obsessed, however. She has also wowed her fellow teammates and fans alike with her languages knowledge.
The pro is known to have an impressive set of skills, speaking English, Portuguese, Spanish and French.
Speaking to She’s a Baller, goalkeeper Hannah Hampton was reflecting at the viral moment Lucy was ‘doing her own physio’ at the England versus Sweden game.
‘But the ref was Spanish,’ she revealed. ‘And the ref was asking her, “so what are you a physio now?”.
‘And Bronzie’s there replying in Spanish “yeah I do everything”‘.
And elsewhere, her close bond with Sunday’s match rival – but dear close friend Ona Batlle – had people swooning.
‘Girls are like “I needed this” and it’s literally just watching clips of Lucy Bronze strapping her own leg on repeat,’ @beccasianh shared
Footballers have long been known to be the heartthrobs of the sports scene – with famous celebrity crushes including Beckham, Messi and Ronaldo – but now a new, fierce contender has emerged following the Lionesses’ historic feat at the Euros last night
In one emotional moment Lucy consoled her close friend Ona Batlle, 26, after England came from behind to beat Spain and retain their Women’s Euros crown.
Lucy started every game of the tournament but was forced off in extra-time before the Lionesses went on to win 3-1 in a nerve-shredding penalty shootout.
At 33 years, eight months and 30 days, Lucy was her side’s oldest player at the tournament and she was again front and centre of a record-setting triumph.
Chloe Kelly proved herself the hero for her country again by slotting home the winning spot-kick after Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati saw their efforts saved by goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, while Salma Paralluelo skewed off target.
Jubilant celebrations saw Chloe’s team-mates flood onto the pitch to begin the party, but Bronze took a moment to escape the hubbub and made a beeline for Ona.
Inseparable on and off the pitch, the two friends high-fived before sitting down on the pitch, seemingly discussing the pulsating showdown that had played out in Basel.
Once the madness had died down, Lucy, kitted out with her gold winner’s medal around her neck, took a stroll with Ona, who had changed into her tracksuit.
The roles were reversed back in 2023 after Spain got the better of England in the World Cup final, when Ona consoled a tearful Lucy after full-time.
At 33 years, eight months and 30 days, Lucy was her side’s oldest player at the tournament and she was again front and centre of a record-setting triumph
Jubilant celebrations saw Chloe’s team-mates flood onto the pitch to begin the party, but Bronze took a moment to escape the hubbub and made a beeline for Ona
Inseparable on and off the pitch, the two friends high-fived before sitting down on the pitch, seemingly discussing the pulsating showdown that had played out in Basel. Both pictured during the game last night
England hero Lucy consoled her close friend Ona after the Euro 2025 final. Both are known to share a close bond
Lucy (left) and Ona (right) sat down on the pitch during the wild final whistle celebrations on Sunday
The roles were reversed after the World Cup final in 2023, when Ona comforted Lucy at Sydney
The duo – pictured – enjoyed a summer holiday together just weeks before the tournament in Switzerland
It was by no means their first trip together – with the pair (both pictured) visiting Disneyland last Christmas
The former Barcelona team-mates shared photos from Disneyland and at the Eiffel Tower (pictured left)
Lucy, now of Chelsea, and Ona (both pictured) played together at Barcelona during the 2023-24 season
The duo were all-conquering team-mates in the 2023-24 season when they were at Barcelona, and they struck up a blossoming friendship, too. They also won the Champions League, Liga F, the Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup together.
Lucy then completed a move back to England with Chelsea last summer.
Lucy and Ona enjoyed a holiday together ahead of Euro 2025 in Switzerland, sharing photos of the trip across their social media profiles.
It appeared the duo were celebrating Ona’s birthday, with the Spaniard’s caption on Instagram reading: ‘Bday week.’
One photo shared online showed them enjoying an ice cream in the sun, while another saw them relaxing on a lilo together in the sea. Lucy and Ona also took a boat trip on their vacation and spent time together in a private pool.
Their holiday this summer was by no means their first. Last Christmas, Ona posted snaps of the two at Disneyland Paris, with the caption: ‘What a magical place’.
Lucy tends to keep her personal life very private. Hailing from Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland, she was brought up bilingual thanks to her Portuguese father and was exposed to football from a very early age by her older brother, Jorge.
Head coach Sarina Wiegman paid tribute to Bronze, saying: ‘Her mentality, the whole team has an incredible mentality, but she has a crazy mentality, it’s unbelievable.’
