Lucia Kendall hit the net within six minutes of just her second England start.
“She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League,” remarked England coach Sarina Wiegman with a laugh.
For Lucia Kendall, the feeling was remarkably similar.
Wiegman was describing the moment the Aston Villa midfielder sprinted off into the corner after slotting her first Lionesses goal – early in a 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.
“They are still doing some treatment on the grass!” she added, poking fun at Kendall’s perfect knee slide.
Getting up from her slide, Kendall looked around with an amazed expression and a huge grin.
A Fairytale Homecoming
Kendall was “a fixture” at Southampton – a club where she had been for ten seasons, graduating from their academy and making 103 appearances before moving to Villa in July.
Consequently, scoring at her old stomping ground in only her third game for England was an unbelievable moment.
“A really special moment for me to be able to do it here, where I grew up. This place made me into the player I am,” Kendall stated.
“It felt like it was written [in the stars]. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”
‘Things Have Gone So Quickly’
While Southampton was instrumental in her development, a significant choice at 15 set her on her path.
The talented youngster was also a avid cricketer – her dad Will represented Hampshire – but eventually had to choose between the sports just as she was breaking into Southampton's first-team squad. She opted for football.
“It presented a dilemma. Juggling both became impossible,” Kendall commented in a previous media conference.
“Growing up, I had a passion for cricket. The decision was genuinely tough. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I knew I enjoy football a bit more.”
A Chelsea supporter, her childhood hero was the prolific England midfielder Frank Lampard, and Kendall’s early career is following that goalscoring trend.
Balancing her football at Southampton with university studies in psychology demonstrated the discipline and dedication needed to excel.
The second-tier club held on to her for as long as they could, but when her contract expired in the summer, Villa pounced to put her in the Women's Super League limelight.
Within months the Winchester-born player has made a name for herself, becoming a regular in the top flight and earning a place in the England squad.
“She shows consistency and that's not easy when you just come into a new environment and into the WSL with Aston Villa,” said Wiegman.
“Things have gone so quickly so fast, but she just keeps up her levels and shows she is a good player - and that is impressive.”
Kendall certainly enjoyed herself at St Mary's, hitting the crossbar later in the first half and almost setting up Villa team-mate Missy Bo Kearns for a goal, before Alessia Russo added a second with an injury-time penalty.
Exiting the pitch to acclaim, the announcer highlighted her deep connection to the club and city.
Having scored 29 times for Southampton during her long tenure, she said, “My early exposure to senior football there from 16 provided a solid base.
“The constant faith they placed in me gave me the confidence to take the next step.
“I knew that I had to go in [to England] and prove why I should be playing at this level. The speed of the game is quicker and it was like going up a division.”
‘Technically and Tactically, She Is a Very Strong Midfielder’
Lucia Kendall made 103 appearances for Southampton before her move in 2025.
Her seamless transition to the international stage has led to praise for her innate midfield qualities and effortless demeanour.
The England manager wants to manage her exposure, citing the roles of both media and club, but is reassured by the player’s humble nature.
Days after being called up by the Lionesses for the first time, Kendall was addressing the media saying she was eager to impress, but also understood the need for the team's greater good and whatever role she needed to play in that.
Teammate Alessia Russo remarked that Kendall settled as if she’d always been there.
“{This team's just gone on to win back-to
