Ella Toone, the England and Manchester United midfielder, has revealed the heartbreaking news that her grandmother passed away on the morning of the Euro 2025 final. This personal tragedy occurred just hours before Toone took to the field in Basel, where the Lionesses secured their title with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Spain, following a 1-1 draw.
The 25-year-old, who played the first 87 minutes of the final, shared the news on Instagram, expressing the bittersweet reality of life's highest and lowest moments coinciding. "Even in the highest of highs life can hit you with the lowest of lows," she wrote, announcing the passing of her "Nana Maz". Toone found solace in knowing that her grandmother watched the game "from the best seat in the house with Dad, her favourite person". Toone had previously lost her father, Nick, to prostate cancer in September of last year.
Toone also expressed the deep love and appreciation she had for her grandmother. "I'll miss you forever nan but I'll cherish the special memories we made, there isn't enough words I can possibly say to sum up the person you were, but I'm grateful you were my nanna. My football loving, crazy, funny Nan,” she shared on Instagram.
Despite the personal grief, Toone played a crucial role in England's success throughout the Euro 2025 tournament. She started in five of the team's six games in Switzerland, contributing to their journey to the final. The Lionesses' victory marked a historic moment as they became the first English side to win a major tournament abroad. The final against Spain was a tense affair, ultimately decided by a penalty shoot-out after extra time couldn't break the 1-1 deadlock. Chloe Kelly scored the decisive penalty, while Hannah Hampton's heroics in goal, saving two penalties, sealed the win for England.
The emotional victory was described by manager Sarina Wiegman as "the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played". Just days after receiving a hero's welcome back in London, Toone shared the news of her grandmother's passing. The outpouring of support and condolences for Toone and her family has been widespread, highlighting the impact she has both on and off the field.
