England's triumphant Euro 2022 hero Chloe Kelly has revealed she could have played for Spain instead of the Lionesses due to her Spanish heritage.
The Manchester City star, whose dramatic extra-time winner secured England's historic victory over Germany at Wembley, has strong family connections to Spain through her father's side.
A different path: Kelly disclosed that she was eligible to represent Spain internationally but ultimately chose England, where she was born and raised in London.
"My dad is Spanish, so I could have played for Spain," the 26-year-old winger revealed. "But for me, it was always England. Growing up here, watching the Lionesses, that was my dream."
What might have been
The revelation adds an intriguing twist to England's European Championship success, imagining how different the tournament might have been with Kelly in Spain's colors.
Kelly's Spanish roots come from her paternal grandfather, who moved to England from Spain in the 1960s. The family maintained strong cultural ties, with Kelly visiting Spain frequently during her childhood.
From London to Wembley glory
The Ealing-born forward has become one of English football's brightest stars since her iconic Wembley moment, when she famously celebrated her winning goal by twirling her shirt above her head.
Her revelation about her Spanish eligibility comes as England prepare to face Spain in the Nations League, adding extra spice to the upcoming fixture.
Dual heritage, single passion: While Kelly embraced her Spanish roots growing up, her footballing heart always belonged to England. "When you pull on that England shirt, there's no feeling like it," she said.
