England football star Lucy Bronze on her autism and ADHD diagnosis: “It’s my superpower”

England football star Lucy Bronze has opened up about her autism and ADHD diagnosis for the first time and believes it could have contributed to her successful football career.

The Euro 2022 winner and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up revealed that she learnt of her diagnosis in 2021, which didn’t surprise her at all.

"It was something I always knew about in a way," she told BBC Sport. "My mum had spoken about it from a very young age and noticed things in me,”

The England and Chelsea defender said she decided to speak about it now to "raise awareness" and get rid of the stigma around the conditions.

“There were times in my life where things might have been easier for me if there wasn't a stigma, if I felt I could be more open about it," said Bronze, who is also an ambassador for the UK's National Autistic Society.

"Getting to sit down and actually speak through my traits and how it affects me, situations that make me feel good or bad, that was the thing that really clicked in my head and made me feel so much better."

"Being misunderstood when you're younger is so difficult... When I first joined up with England I could not speak to anyone," Bronze confessed.

"[I remember] Casey Stoney said to me, 'You've never looked me in the eye when speaking to me', and I was like, 'It's not because of you, it's me'."

Bronze, 33, also said one autistic trait of having intense interest in something helped her footballing career. She's won 22 major trophies playing for clubs in England, France and Spain, including five Champions League trophies with Lyon and Chelsea.

“People always say, ‘Oh, you’re so passionate about football’,” added the 2019 UEFA Player of the Year in the BBC interview.

“I don’t know if I’d say I’m passionate — I’m obsessed. That’s my autism.”

“Training every day is amazing for me. Some of the other girls will be like: 'Are you sure you're 33 because you don't stop?' It’s just my superpower…All the things I have because of autism have worked in my advantage."

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