"The doctors told me to stop"

Original article from France Football, published after the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

My Yachine Trophy: "We've always been the first position to be criticized"

"To think that I'm the first one is a bit strange! But of course, I'm happy and emotional. I never would have thought I'd receive this award, just like my Ballon d'Or nomination. It's a victory for all female goalkeepers to have a representative among the 30. And it doesn't matter that it's me. Obviously, it's fantastic, but I just wanted our performances from the season to be highlighted.

We've always been the first position to be criticized, so this recognition shows our progress. I love proving people wrong; it's what I've done my whole career. Goalkeepers are now a force to be reckoned with. Everything is changing very quickly, starting with training. When I discovered women's football at 12, my role models—I'm thinking of Carly Telford (former England and Chelsea goalkeeper)—only had one specific training session per week. I'm lucky enough to have them every day, and even more. In twenty years, the level will be even crazier, and I'll be glad to have retired. Some people want to change the rules, the size of the goal? We want the game to be similar to the men's game; it pushes us to excel. We are just as talented."

My Second Home, Spain: "I was scouted by a Villarreal player in the schoolyard"

"I was born in Birmingham and started my professional career there, so you might think I've always stayed there. But not at all! I was 5 when my family moved to Spain, to Villarreal, until I was 10. My parents were teachers; they wanted my brother and me to discover the language and culture of another country. We had Spanish lessons while the other students were learning English with our parents. While waiting for them to finish their day, my brother and I would kick a ball around in the schoolyard. And our school was where the Villarreal players sent their children. One day, while picking up his daughter, Fabricio Fuentes (an Argentine international defender who played for Guingamp) saw me playing and advised me to try out for the club.

"If I hadn't grown up in Spain, I wouldn't be at this level. I loved every second I spent there."

Everything started from there; that's where I discovered my passion for football. I played with the boys, and everywhere I went, I'd hear, 'Mira, hay una chica' ('Look, there's a girl'). I would laugh about it and use it as fuel to prove to them that it didn't matter. Then I'd score two goals—I started as a striker—and we'd win. Spanish football helped me more than you can imagine.

The philosophy was tiki-taka. You had to learn to play with both feet and be comfortable under pressure. You can see it today: I like having the ball, being at the start of attacking moves, and if there's pressure, I'm not afraid. I try to find a good pass. It gives the fans a scare, but that's my style of play. If I hadn't grown up in Spain, I wouldn't be at this level. I loved every second I spent there. My dad and I would go to all the matches, watching Marcos Senna, Santi Cazorla... incredible players. Plus, speaking another language fluently helps me in the Chelsea dressing room."

My Strabismus: "I would take the ball to the face and get a nosebleed"

"I was born with severe strabismus. Until we left for Spain, I was constantly in the hospital for surgeries. And then, every time we returned to England, I had to go back for check-ups. But my parents let me play football because they just wanted me to enjoy my childhood. It was only after I returned from Villarreal that the doctors told me to stop. They discovered I had no depth perception and couldn't judge distances. I was 14, at the Stoke academy. I was finally able to put a name to my frustration.

There were simple things I couldn't do, like catching a ball. I would either take the ball to the face and get a nosebleed, or it would drop a meter away from me. But I found a way to deal with it. I wish I could explain it, but it just became normal for me. Today, the doctors say my vision will never improve. The surgeries can only help me cosmetically.

I still have a 'lazy eye' (an eye that loses its axis) from time to time, and I read mocking comments under some photos. Sometimes it gets me down, and I consider surgery. But I manage to lead a normal life. Disabilities are a strength.

"For two years, I was a goalkeeper for the national team and a striker for my club"

On the England national team: "I keep telling the manager that I'm a top number 9!"

I went through all the youth teams with England. It all happened in a funny way. From ages 5 to 12, I was a center-forward. One day, when I was at the Stoke academy, our starting goalkeeper got injured during the warm-up. I thought to myself, "Alright, I'll have some fun." And, by some miracle, there was a scout from the Federation on the sidelines. He came to see me after the match and said, "We want you to be our goalkeeper." I didn't think I'd go far with it, so I played as a goalkeeper for the national team and a striker for my club. I did that for two years until I had to make a choice. But you should know, I keep telling Sarina (Wiegman, England manager) and Sonia (Bompastor, Chelsea coach) that I'm a top number 9! You never know. Well, I might annoy them to death if I keep asking them to let me try. (She laughs.)

I joined the Lionesses at 19 (and got my first cap at 21). I'm 24 now, and we've just won a second consecutive Euros (after the one won at home in 2022, where she was a substitute). This summer, it took a lot of determination to turn difficult situations around. Those last three matches decided after 120 minutes (from the quarterfinals to the final) were more mentally exhausting than physically. During the quarter-final against Sweden (2-2 a.e.t., 3-2 on penalties), around the 75th minute, I found myself wondering how on earth I was going to tidy my room. My things were scattered everywhere, and I was thinking it would be quite a challenge. Then we scored two goals in two minutes (Bronze, 79'; Agyemang, 81'). The difficulty was staying in the moment to be decisive when the team needed it (two saves during the penalty shootout in the quarters, two in the final against Spain, 1-1 a.e.t., 3-1 on penalties, against Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati). These emotional contrasts make the victories even more beautiful.

On her club, Chelsea: "I dream of winning the Champions League"

When I was at Birmingham (from 2016 to 2021), the coach, Carla Ward, asked me, "Where do you want to play?" I replied, "My dream club is Chelsea." I felt I could achieve all my goals there. Carla told me, "I'll get you to Chelsea one day." We first went to Aston Villa together, and then, two years later, she handed me her phone: "Here, a call for you." It was Emma Hayes, the Chelsea coach (first winner of the Johan Cruyff Trophy in 2024, now the US national team manager). I moved in the summer of 2023, and I feel at home. We're a family, I'm learning a few words of French with Sonia (Bompastor, who arrived in May 2024), everything is great!

Now, I dream of winning the Champions League. It's the trophy we're missing, and the whole club wants it. Last season, we were knocked out in the semis (eliminated by FC Barcelona, 1-4, 1-4), and some said it was a failure. A domestic treble season can't be a failure. It just shows what people expect from us. So we're going to aim for everything again. When Arsenal won the Champions League (1-0 against Barça on May 24), we saw the spotlight it put on women's football in England. We want to show that Chelsea can do it too. We're close, but there's still a way to go.

On her personality: "I want to make people smile"

I'm very shy at first. As soon as I trust someone, they discover my bubbly and funny side. I find it hard to open up to others, but I'm always there whenever someone needs me. I'm a terrible singer, but I sing. I love cycling and fashion. I can't sit still, so I always have to be busy. I also enjoy speaking different languages. I can have a basic conversation with each of my teammates in their native language.

Hannah Hampton
Born November 16, 2000, in Birmingham, England.
Height/Weight: 1.73m; 65kg.
Career Path: Birmingham (2016-2021) Aston Villa (2021-2023) Chelsea (since July 2023).
2024-2025 Season Stats. Matches: 48. Goals Conceded: 42. Clean Sheets: 24. Cards: 1 yellow, 0 red.
Honors. Euro: 2022, 2025. Finalissima: 2023. Women's Super League: 2024, 2025. FA Cup: 2025. League Cup: 2025. Yachine Trophy: 2025.

I also know sign language. I saw my cousin Ethan, who is deaf, struggle to feel accepted in the family and how happy it made him when I learned his language. I'm an ambassador for the Birmingham Children's Hospital. I want to create smiles. I was very lucky that my parents let me do what made me smile, despite my diagnosis. I just want kids to realize that no one has the right to tell them what they can or can't do."