She also won the truncated WSL Spring Series in 2017, before a WSL and FA Cup double in 2017/18.That 2017/18 campaign was also a marvellous year for Kirby on an individual level. England fans will be looking to Chelsea star Fran Kirby to make the difference at the Women's World Cup this summer, with the 25-year-old arguably the Lionesses' most gifted forward.Here's everything you need to know about her ahead of the tournament...Kirby was immensely talented as a child, tipped for international stardom by her earliest coaches. I love all the girls, love the environment and I really enjoy playing in England,’ adds Kirby, whose side travel to Fiorentina for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday holding a 1-0 lead.‘One day it might happen — I had opportunities this summer to go abroad and play, but I wanted to stay here and help Chelsea progress and win more trophies and help the club win its first Champions League.‘I want to make sure I’m winning the big trophies with Chelsea.’To do that, Emma Hayes’ side must hit the goal trail again. Who is Fran Kirby, what was the injury which kept her out for a year and how did the Ballon D'Or nominee make history? News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.The Chelsea and England Lionesses legend has been in impressive form which has seen her included in the nominations for the first Women's Ballon D'OrFRAN Kirby has been named on the shortlist for the first Women's Ballon D'Or award.The Lioness is the only player from the Women's Super League and joins the likes of The 25-year-old is currently a Chelsea forward and Lioness star.Kirby, who grew through the ranks at her hometown club Reading, made her first team debut at the age of 16 and during the 2014 season finished as the WSL2 top goalscorer.She became the first second tier player to be awarded a place in the England senior squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Ukraine in 2014.She made her international senior debut against Sweden scoring the second in a 4-0 win over the European side at Victoria Park in Hartlepool.Kirby joined Chelsea for a fee which was reported between £40,000 and £60,000 but this was never confirmed by either clubs or the player.During the 2015 season, Kirby made her debut coming off the bench against Birmingham - and scoring.During that season, Chelsea lifted the Women's FA Cup beating Notts County in the final but Kirby was forced to sit out of the competition due to being cup tied.Despite struggling with injury in recent years, Kirby has still impressed for both Chelsea and England helping her club to the semi-finals of the 2017-18 Uefa Champions League.In the same season, Kirby helped the side win their second Super League title and scored in the final of the SSE Women's FA Cup at Wembley where the Blues After the impressive season, she signed a new three-year deal with the Blues which will see her at the club until 2021.Kirby suffered a horrible 12 months out of the game between 2016 and 2017 with back-to-back injuries and slow recoveries.In May 2016, Kirby collided with a player in a 50/50 challenge and despite carrying on playing - and scoring in the game - she inevitably made the injury worse.The Chelsea forward carried on playing through the injury for a number of weeks until the pain became so bad she could barely walk.The scan confirmed that she had fractured her knee and she was put on injections, painkillers and rehab.Despite the bad injury, Kirby was convinced she would be back in time for the start of the new season in six weeks time but she kept struggling with setbacks with treatment which included hydrotherapy, ultra-sound treatment and even magnetic therapy.Alongside the knee injury, Kirby also found out she had bone edema which is really deep internal bruising.This meant that she had to lay off from weights and cardio for eight months while she recovered.Unfortunately, this only led to more problems and the weakness in her legs caused patella tendonitis.Eleven months after the original injury, Kirby began full training but two days before the FA Cup semi-final, she went over on her ankle while blocking a shot causing a grade three ligament tear.Kirby finally made it back for Chelsea for the final five games of the season in May 2017, scoring six goals and she was named in the England squad for the European Championships in the Netherlands.Kirby topped off an impressive 2017/18 season after winning both the WSL title and the FA Cup with a number of individual honours.She was named in the PFA Team of the Year and the Uefa Champions League squad of the season as well as Chelsea Ladies' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.Kirby's other awards from last season include the PFA Player of the Year and she also made history by become the first to win the female FWA Player of the Year. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby both started England's 1-0 win over Brazil on Saturday England's Lucy Bronze and Fran Kirby are among the nominees for the inaugural Women's Ballon d'Or award. She was the youngest member of the squad, the outfield player with the fewest caps, but returned home a star.Kirby was only a substitute for England's opening 1-0 defeat against France, but she was brought into the starting XI for the next game against Mexico. "Kirby joined Chelsea midway through the 2015 Women's Super League season, finishing her first half-season with the club as part of a title-winning team.
FRAN KIRBY has seen both sides of social media in recent weeks but insists she and her team-mates will not cut off their link to the fans because of internet trolls. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. England fans will be looking to Chelsea star Fran Kirby to make the difference at the Women's World Cup this summer, ... Fran Kirby - England's Creative Maestro & Ballon d'Or … On that occasion, England were soundly beaten 3-0 by the Netherlands, the eventual champions.
I am from Reading, from a small family, don’t have much to shout about, and it just exploded. That was the hardest part - we didn't give enough," she recently told "We want to make sure we get past that stage [in the 2019 World Cup]. We just want to go on and change perceptions.’Asked whether she had ever been advised to close her social media accounts, she replied: ‘Not really — during tournaments I go off social media so I can focus entirely on football. ‘We won the Double and that was bigger than any personal achievement.‘I never thought at any stage I would be in the position I’m in now. It’s important for us to engage with the fans.’The flipside for Kirby was discovering the news she had been named on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or earlier this month, alongside her England colleague Lucy Bronze.Despite a superb season in which she was named player of the year by the Professional Footballers’ Association, the Football Writers, Chelsea and her team-mates after helping the Blues to a Women’s Super League and FA Cup Double, as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League, Kirby is humble about the nod.‘I found out about it on social media — it was definitely a surprise,’ she said. FRAN Kirby has been named on the shortlist for the first Women's Ballon D'Or award.
More than I have done at any other club," she told the As already alluded to, Kirby's international career started when she was still playing WSL 2 football with Reading. The 25-year-old is currently a Chelsea forward and Lioness star.
She helped the Lionesses destroy France in the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, Phil Neville's first game in charge, and was part of the squad which lifted that trophy for the first time this year.Kirby's breakout moment came during the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
On that occasion, England were soundly beaten 3-0 by the Netherlands, the eventual champions.