Chloe Kelly
The forward whose extra-time goal for England at Wembley sparked a national celebration and cemented her status as a big-game player.
Born 1998 (age 28)·English footballer·Birthday: January 15·Generation Z
Biography
Chloe Kelly's football journey is one of resilience and explosive impact. A product of Arsenal's academy, her early career was marked by a serious loan spell at Everton where she honed her direct, powerful style. A move to Manchester City saw her develop into one of the Women's Super League's most dangerous creators, topping the assist charts. But her career, and England's football history, was defined by a single moment at a packed Wembley Stadium in 2022. In the European Championship final against Germany, with the score tied in extra time, Kelly pounced on a loose ball in the box and stabbed it home. The image of her wheeling away, shirt in hand, screaming in pure joy, became an indelible symbol of a new era for English women's football. The goal secured England's first major trophy. After overcoming a second significant ACL injury, she returned to her childhood club Arsenal, adding a UEFA Women's Champions League title to her accolades. Kelly plays with a street-footballer's fearlessness and joy, a constant threat whose pace and determination can change a game in an instant.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Chloe was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chloe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Chloe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the championship-winning goal for England in the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final against Germany.
- Won the UEFA Women's Champions League with Arsenal in the 2024-25 season.
- Was the joint-top assist provider in the 2020-21 Women's Super League season while at Manchester City.
- Named to the PFA WSL Team of the Year for the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons.
Did You Know?
Her celebratory shirt-twirling moment after the Euro 2022 winning goal was inspired by a celebration from Brazilian men's player Bebeto.
She is a lifelong Arsenal fan and grew up supporting the club before joining their academy.
She has overcome two ACL injuries, one in 2018 and another in 2021, making her major tournament success a testament to her perseverance.
Her brother, Dan, is also a professional footballer who has played as a goalkeeper in the English league system.
“It's the dream. To score at Wembley... but to do it in front of family and friends, and this crowd, is unbelievable.”
