Nothing I've achieved comes close to a kid saying, 'You're my idol, I have autism and ADHD, and I'm so proud of you for speaking about it

Lioness speaks out ahead of Euros title defence

- BY HOLLIE BONE

Lioness Lucy Bronze has told of the huge kick she gets from championing her neurodivergence and using her role as a footballer to create change.

England's women begin their defence of their Euros title next week.

And ahead of the tournament, fan-favourite Bronze has described the public's reaction to her opening up about her autism and ADHD to the BBC's Alex Scott on Football Daily.

It led to a heartwarming encounter with a young fan after a recent game.

Bronze says: "A little kid ran up to me and said, 'You're my idol, because I'm autistic and I have ADHD and I'm so proud of you for speaking about it.'

"I thought, 'He's proud of me?! He's seven!' Because he's seen someone else [with neurodivergent traits], he thought it was really cool.

"Doing that interview is the biggest reaction I've ever had to anything I've ever done in my whole career.

"Even winning things football-wise or getting a degree or anything that I've done that I've had success with wouldn't come close to the reaction I had from that."

The 33-year-old Chelsea defender's interview with Alex came years after her diagnosis in 2021.