Kendall scored early on her second start for the national team.
“She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League,” noted England manager Sarina Wiegman with a laugh.
To Lucia Kendall, the moment felt just as significant.
This comment came as Wiegman spoke about the young midfielder’s ecstatic reaction to her maiden England goal – early in a 2-0 victory over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium.
“They are still doing some treatment on the grass!” she added, in reference to Kendall’s flawless knee slide.
As the 21-year-old rose, puffing out her cheeks and mobbed by her team-mates, a broad smile lit up her face.
A Fairytale Homecoming
Kendall was “part of the furniture” at Southampton – a club where she had been for ten seasons, graduating from their academy and playing 103 appearances before joining Villa in July.
Consequently, scoring at her old stomping ground in only her third game for England was an magical moment.
“It was a truly special moment to achieve this here, in my hometown. This place shaped the player I am,” Kendall said.
“It felt like it was written [in the stars]. It was so special. I got flooded with emotion really.”
‘Things Have Gone So Quickly’
While Southampton was instrumental in her development, a significant choice at 15 set her on her path.
A proficient cricketer as well, with a father who played county cricket for Hampshire, she was forced to decide between the two pursuits as her football career began to flourish. Football was the choice.
“It presented a dilemma. Juggling both became impossible,” Kendall said in a previous media conference.
“I loved playing cricket growing up. It was a really difficult decision. I went back and forth, but when the time came, I realised I enjoy football a bit more.”
Her idol growing up as a Chelsea fan was Frank Lampard – an England midfielder known for his goalscoring ability – and Kendall has begun her career in a similar fashion.
Her ability to manage first-team football alongside a psychology degree was evidence of the drive and dedication required for the top level.
The club did their utmost to keep her, but with her deal up, Villa moved decisively to introduce her to the top flight.
Her rapid progress has seen her become a WSL regular and an England international in a short space of time.
“Displaying consistency is challenging for any new arrival in the WSL, but she has managed it,” admitted Wiegman.
“The pace of her rise has been breathtaking, yet she maintains her performance standard, proving her quality impressively.”
Kendall certainly enjoyed herself at St Mary's, striking the crossbar later in the first half and almost teeing up Villa team-mate Missy Bo Kearns for a goal, before Alessia Russo added a second with an injury-time penalty.
Exiting the pitch to applause, the announcer highlighted her deep connection to the club and city.
Kendall scored 29 goals for the club in more than a decade of service and added: “Being at Southampton for so long, I played regular senior football from the age of 16 and that was incredibly beneficial.
“The constant faith they placed in me gave me the confidence to take the next step.
“I understood the need to justify my selection at international level, where the tempo is higher, akin to moving up a league.”
Acknowledgment of Her Football Intelligence
Kendall’s time at Southampton concluded after 103 matches in the summer.
Kendall has made an immediate impression at international level, with observers stating she has just “understands the game” as a midfielder and looks like a “natural”.
The England manager wants to manage her exposure, citing the roles of both media and club, but is reassured by the player’s humble nature.
Days after being called up by the Lionesses for the first time, Kendall was sitting in front of the media saying she was eager to impress, but also understood the need for the team's greater good and whatever role she needed to play in that.
According to Russo, Kendall’s assimilation was so smooth it seemed she’d been part of the group for ages.
“{This team's just gone on to win back-to
