Chloe Kelly has become the first player to score the decisive goal—including penalty shootouts—in two major international tournament finals, according to a new analysis. The England forward netted 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 the finals. She set up Alessia Russo's equaliser in the Euro 2025 final, played key roles in both goals against Sweden in the quarter-finals, scored a nerveless penalty in the subsequent shootout, and netted a 119th-minute winner against Italy in the semi-finals. In the 2023 World Cup, she scored the winning penalty against Nigeria in the last-16 shootout, and also converted the decisive spot-kick in the Finalissima shootout against Brazil earlier that year.
No other player has scored the winning goal in two World Cup or European Championship finals, including shootouts. The only other England players to score a winning penalty in a shootout are Eric Dier (Colombia, 2018 World Cup) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (Switzerland, Euro 2024).
Kelly's achievements come despite never starting a knockout match at a major tournament. Her substitute role has defined a modern kind of glory, often involving extra time and penalties. Other greats like Carli Lloyd (2015 World Cup) and Birgit Prinz (scored in five finals between 1995 and 2009) have dominated tournaments in different ways.
England's Euro 2025 victory was also notable for their minimal time in front. Excluding added time, they led for just one minute across the knockout rounds—a record low for a Women's Euros winner. Kelly's 119th-minute goal against Italy put them ahead for the only time in their three knockout matches against Sweden, Italy and Spain.
