Chloe Kelly: England striker says Barbie doll honor ‘very special’

Arsenal and England striker Chloe Kelly has been transformed into a Barbie doll as part of a special series to mark International Women’s Day.

Two-time European Championship winner Kelly, 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams and Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana are among the sports figures Mattel has included in its first-ever “Barbie Dream Team,” which it says “honors women who have led the way in their industries.”

“To be a role model for Barbie is very special,” said Kelly, 28. “And to have my own one-of-a-kind doll – I’m very proud of that.”

“You don’t really believe these things can happen. You’re always looking for trophies and wins on the field, but off the field, this is a massive win.”

She added: “When I was a little girl, you dreamed of having these moments, but they never seemed to come true.”

Kelly has been a key member of the England squad that has won the past two European Championships.

She scored the winning goal for the Lions in extra time at Wembley Stadium to secure victory over Germany in the 2022 final, then scored the decisive penalty kick in the shootout against Spain, which retained the title in Switzerland last summer.

Kelly was also involved in England’s run to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final.

At club level, she was part of the Arsenal side that won the Women’s Champions League last season.