Lucy Bronze: England’s Indomitable “Beast” and Record-Breaker Headed for Euro 2025 Final

July 27, 2025: As England gets ready to play Spain in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final, all eyes are on Lucia Roberta Tough Bronze. The senior defender’s toughness, tenacity, and nonstop play throughout the tournament have made her a living legend on the Lionesses team. Bronze is 33 years old and has been the oldest and maybe most important member of Sarina Wiegman’s team. Her second middle name, “Tough,” appears to perfectly describe how she plays.

Manager Sarina Wiegman called Bronze “one of a kind,” and teammates Ella Toone called her “a beast” and Esme Morgan called her “a freak” (all meant as good praise). Bronze has become the emotional and physical anchor for an England team recognized for its energy and strength. Her 89-year-old grandmother in Northumberland calls her the Lionesses’ “grit and determination.”

This Euro 2025 is Bronze’s fifth big tournament for England, and it has definitely been a defining one. Younger teammates are amazed by her leadership, passion, and unrelenting devotion, which she showed by playing two 120-minute games in a row against Sweden and Italy in the knockout stages. The Euro 2025 final against Spain will be her 36th appearance at a major tournament, breaking Jill Scott’s previous record for an England player. This is because she has been around for so long.

Bronze’s changing role on the team is one reason why they made it to three major event finals in a row (after Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Cup). At the 2015 World Cup, she was a breakout star. At the 2019 World Cup, she was England’s top player. She came in second to Megan Rapinoe for the Ballon d’Or and received the Silver Ball for being the second-best player. Now as England is trying to become the first team to win the European title twice in a row, Bronze is probably their most important player on the field. She may not be at her best as an individual attacker anymore, but she has become the embodiment of the struggle, leadership, and steadfast commitment of the group.

At 33, Bronze is having what could be her most important year in an England shirt. She has already had her best year in terms of direct contributions in 2025, scoring four goals and assisting three in the UEFA Women’s EURO. She is still one of the fittest players on the team and is regarded for being the hardest worker. No one has ever doubted her work ethic, but her contagious spirit has become an important part of the England camp. When things go tough for the Lionesses, they naturally turn to Bronze. Esme Morgan said that she “just sort of put her shoulders back and played like, ‘I am not letting us go home'” in the quarter-final versus Sweden. This brave performance will surely become part of Lionesses mythology.

Bronze’s reasons for doing things are still quite personal and simple. “I started playing football because I love it. When I loved it, I wanted to work hard,” she said. “I’ll do anything and everything when I wear an England shirt; that’s my ‘why.'” Every step she takes on the field shows how deeply committed she is. She is a powerful force and a great inspiration for her team and country.