‘Mini Messi' – Former Lionesses pay tribute to Fran Kirby after her international retirement

Fran Kirby's former teammates dubbed the recently-retired Lioness 'mini Messi' for her game-changing ability in an England shirt.
The 31-year-old midfielder retired from England duty earlier this month, following news from Sarina Wiegman that she would not be involved in this summer's Euros in Switzerland.
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After making her debut in 2014, Kirby earned 77 caps and scored 19 goals for the Lionesses, and despite not making it into Wiegman's travelling squad, her former teammates were full of praise for her England legacy.
Jill Scott, who retired after England's Euros win alongside Kirby in 2022, said: 'What she [Kirby] contributed to England over the years, she's been amazing.
'I think usually when you put that England shirt on, it probably takes you a tournament or a few games to kind of get going. But I remember 2015, which I think was one of her first tournaments, she was incredible.
'I think they actually nicknamed her 'mini Messi' because of the impact she would have on games. I have never really seen a player impact an international game like she did, since Kelly Smith.
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'She's a great player and just would like to wish her a massive congratulations on a great England career.'
Former England captain Steph Houghton added: 'Fran should be so proud of what she's achieved in her career.
'To think, I was there when she came into the England setup and she was playing for Reading at the time, which was the league below, and she came in and she was that number 10 that we had been crying out for – that little bit of trickery, that game changer.
'And ever since then, she's scored important goals and made important progress within the team.
'She can hold her head up high and know that she had a great international career and I was really proud to be her teammate as well.'

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