Chloe Kelly has become the first player to score the decisive goal in two major international tournament finals, including penalty shootouts, according to a new analysis. The England forward scored the winner in extra time against Germany in the Euro 2022 final and converted the decisive penalty in the shootout against Spain in the Euro 2025 final.
Kelly's impact extends beyond those finals. She also scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Nigeria in the 2023 World Cup last 16 and in the Finalissima against Brazil earlier that year. This means she has scored the winning penalty in three shootouts for England, more than every other male and female England player combined. Only Eric Dier and Trent Alexander-Arnold have done it once each.
Despite never starting a knockout match at a major tournament, Kelly has been a key contributor from the bench. In Euro 2025, she set up Alessia Russo's equaliser in the final, played a role in both goals against Sweden in the quarter-finals, scored a crucial penalty in the shootout, and netted a 119th-minute winner against Italy in the semi-finals.
The analysis also highlights other dominant performers in women's football. Germany's Birgit Prinz scored in five finals between 1995 and 2009, winning all of them. Carli Lloyd was player of the match in all four knockout games of the 2015 World Cup, scoring in each, including a hat-trick in the final. Spain's Olga Carmona scored winners in both the semi-final and final of the 2023 World Cup.
England's Euro 2025 campaign saw them lead for just one minute in regulation time across the knockout rounds, a record low for a tournament winner. Kelly's 119th-minute goal against Italy was the only time they were ahead in normal or extra time, though they led for four minutes 52 seconds including added time.
