Lionesses star Lucy Bronze insists she is still ‘good enough’ at launch of her new Scholarship Award

As Lucy Bronze walked through the media zone at Stadium Australia after England‘s World Cup final defeat by Spain, her answer to whether she would continue playing for her country was emphatic. ‘I’m not retiring from England,’ was her response.

Fifteen months on and with next summer’s European Championship on the horizon, that stance has not changed. Bronze has competed in six international tournaments for the Lionesses but, as she points out, she is just 33. Many have played on far beyond that age, including Brazilian legend Formiga, whose last game was at 43.

‘Formiga is my idol,’ Bronze tells Mail Sport ahead of today’s England clash with the United States at a sold-out Wembley. ‘I love Marta (38), Christine Sinclair (who recently retired at 41). Age is something other people seem to point out.

‘I’m not stupid, my level isn’t as good as it was a couple of years ago — but my level then was the best in the world, so it’s hard in that respect.

‘All the girls see me as a young player because I’ve got too much energy sometimes. I’ll retire when I don’t have that same love or I have a passion for something else.’

That drive to keep winning is what has kept Bronze, who joined Chelsea in the summer, at the top of the women’s game for so long.

England manager Sarina Wiegman yesterday described the defender as ‘the most competitive’ player with whom she has worked and somebody with an incredible game understanding.

‘I’ve never sat back and thought, “I’ve done so much”,’ says Bronze, who has won 24 trophies across five clubs. ‘As soon as you do, that is the moment to stop because you’re looking back instead of forward.

‘As soon as the whistle blew when we won the Euros, I was thinking, “World Cup is coming up”. That has always been my mindset, “What’s next?”. That’s why I don’t see myself stopping any time soon.’

And tonight Bronze, who is speaking to Mail Sport at the launch of the Lucy Bronze Scholarship Award, which offers one girl a fully-funded boarding place at a top independent school and mentoring from Bronze, will take on the US led by former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes. 

‘We’ve developed a rivalry with the US over the years and there’s now another edge because of Sarina (Wiegman) and Emma,’ Bronze says.

‘They’re two big managers who are so successful. We love having the US across because they create such an atmosphere.’

Bronze admits it has been an up and down period for the Lionesses since the World Cup. ‘We were dragging ourselves to that final and it was difficult on a lot of players,’ she says.

‘It’s a different team balance at England to what it has been. As a young player now when you come in, there’s an expectation. There’s so much more media now. Playing for England, in front of 80,000, there’s a lot that goes into that.’

Bronze has recently joined the PFA board and says her desire is to get into places in the game where women have not been before. ‘It’s about getting your foot in the door, then getting a seat and then getting listened to,’ she says.

‘We all talk about change in women’s football, but if there’s no one at the top willing to fight for that, it becomes difficult. I know what I’m capable of, so I’ll be able to change something. That’s a dream of mine.’

With 2025 set to be another big year for women’s football, Bronze has no intention of slowing down.

To enter the Lucy Bronze Scholarship Award, download the aiScout app and visit academiaandfootball.co.uk