Lionesses' hidden heartbreaks from health scares to cancer and love splits

TheLionesses roared to victory in a heart-stopping penalty shootout against Spain on Sunday night, lifting the European Championship trophy once again.

The England squad made an impressive comeback in the final amid a gruelling 120-minute match against Spain. Mariona Caldentey initially put Spain ahead with a 25th-minute header, before England's Alessia Russo responded with a headed equaliser from Chloe Kelly's delivery after half-time.

During the penalty shootout, Lioness goalkeeper Hannah Hampton pulled off a series of stunning saves before Kelly stepped up to convert the winning shot following Sama Paralluelo's miss. But amid their triumphant success, clinching the Euro cup for two consecutive years, some of the players have faced personal heartache away from the pitch...

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Family loss

Ella Toone andBeth Mead have been through alot in recent years after tragically losing close family members to cancer. Manchester United midfielderToone, 25, lost her beloved father, Nick, to cancer in September 2024, just days after her birthday and three days before his 60th. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer the day after he watched Toone score in the Euro 2022 final against Germany at Wembley.

In an emotional Instagram tribute to her dad, Toone said: "I will miss you, and I will never stop loving you." She added: "There’s a big hole in my heart that can never be filled but all I can do now is continue to make you proud."

She went on to describe him as "the best dad in the world, best man, my best friend and my best football coach." Her father's death was an event that she admitted impacted her game last season.

Arsenal's Beth Mead, 30, who made a triumphant return to the Lionesses' squad after a crushing ACL injury in 2022, sadly lost her mother, June, in 2023 to ovarian cancer. Sharing the news of her mum's death, Mead emotionally said their "hearts are broken" and there will be a "piece missing forever".

She also shared: "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever. I'm sad that you are gone, but I'm more grateful for the time we had together." Mead later revealed that it was her mother's diagnosis in 2021 that drove her domestic and international triumphs in the subsequent years.

After the Lionesses clinched the Euros cup on Sunday, Toone and Mead shared a snap together on Instagram and dedicated their win to the parents they have lost. In the caption, they wrote: "We did it for our angels in the sky. Forever with us & forever proud."

Toone also shared an Instagram photo of an empty seat at St. Jakob-Park during the Euro 2025 final that had been beside her family. She wrote: "Spare seat next to my mum tonight. If that's not a sign, I don't know what is. I know you were there dad, Love you."

When Toone and Mead scored against Wales during the Euros, they both looked, pointed, and blew a kiss to the sky in a touching tribute to their parents. Speaking after the game, Toone said: "I’m so happy for Beth. I was buzzing she got that goal and we both could celebrate to the sky. I’m sure they will be up there with a few pints in their hands watching us.

"We have really bonded over such a terrible thing but it’s nice to have someone who has been through it and who understands and who knows exactly what is going on and what is going on in my head as well. We definitely have each other’s backs, we are proud of each other and it’s nice we are constantly talking about them. It’s nice to have someone in the same situation and we know we are doing them proud."

Lioness split

Lioness defender Lucy Bronze, 33, and England's vice-captain Keira Walsh, 28, who were at the heart of the action on Sunday night, were previously rumoured to be in a relationship, before a sudden split.

The pair kept their rumoured romance relatively low-key and never publicly confirmed their relationship, but shared several cosy photos together on social media over the years. Some of which included sun-soaked getaways together, including a break to Lyon, France, in 2019 and a trip to LA in May 2022, where they struck a pose on the beach.

They even spent time together with both their families, as a sweet Instagram snap showed Lucy and Keira beaming alongside their loved ones. While they never confirmed their relationship together or a split, things seemed to suddenly come to an abrupt end.

Bronze is now said to be romantically linked with Spanish footballer Ona Batlle, 26. The pair were up against each other during the nail-biting Euro final on Sunday, and Bronze was spotted comforting Batlle on the pitch shortly after England took the victory.

Just weeks before the Euros, Bronze and Batlle enjoyed a sun-soaked getaway together and shared snaps on Instagram. Bronze captioned the post: "Few days of sun," while Ona commented with a heart-eyed emoji. They even took a trip to Disneyland Paris together in December last year.

Health scare

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, 24, put on a sensational performance on Sunday night with her incredible saves against Spain, despite their relentless attempts. However, a medical condition threatened to end Hampton's football career even before it started.

She was previously diagnosed with strabismus, an eye condition that affects depth perception. The goalkeeper has endured numerous surgeries over the years to try and correct it, although not all have been entirely successful.

In a candid chat with the Telegraphahead of Euro 2025, she disclosed: "I've always gone through life trying to prove people wrong. I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wasn't a profession I could pursue, the doctors told my parents that.

"I'm here right now. You can't let all the scrutiny win. I think if you do that it just adds fuel to the fire and I wasn't willing to accept that. I wanted to show who I am as a person and show that [the stories] weren't always true. So I thought, 'just dig in'. I did that and I'm sat here right now. I think I can say that I've proved people wrong."

Hampton continues to contend with issues of depth perception, making her accomplishments on the pitch even more remarkable.

Injury

England hero Lucy Bronze revealed that she played the entire Euro 2025 tournament with a fractured tibia after the Lionesses beat Spain on penalties in a dramatic final.

Speaking post-match, the right-back, 33, told BBC One: "I have actually played the whole tournament with a fractured tibia, 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." Bronze limped to collect her winners medal after being taken off in extra-time with an injury.

She had most of her right leg strapped up and, as she alluded to, also hurt her knee in the win over Spain.