THE Lionesses are currently playing in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
And whilst we eagerly watch their matches, you may be wondering where player Toni Duggan is – we explain.
Toni is on maternity leave.
Who is Everton and England player Toni Duggan?
Toni Duggan was born July 25, 1991 in Liverpool.
She began playing football with boys for an under-eight team known as the Jellytots.
She attended Notre Dame Catholic College and graduated from Loughborough College in 2010.
She’s also an ambassador for Kick It Out, a footballers’ anti-discrimination organisation, and the charity Saving Lives.
She has represented England at Under-19, Under-20 and Under-23 levels.
She currently is a Forward for Everton F.C and England’s national team.
Why is Toni Duggan not playing at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup?
Toni isn’t playing at the world cup this year as she gave birth in March 2023.
She announced the birth of her daughter, Luella.
In her Instagram post, Duggan is in a hospital with her daughter in her arms writing:
“The night our lives changed forever…. Welcome to the world our gorgeous girl Luella, Born 25th March, weighing 6lbs 12oz – you’re a little dream my baby girl.. best feeling in the world.”
She announced her pregnancy on September 27, 2022, and that she should miss the rest of the WSL season.
She told Sky Sports she was finding it hard to hide her pregnancy as she kept being sick.
“In the first few weeks, I wasn’t too sick, I was just actually being sick.”
“I felt okay in myself so I’d be on the bike upstairs before the girls went out to training.”
“It was every single time at 10 minutes.”
“I think when my body temperature came up and I needed to be sick, the girls were in the gym and I was like where can I go?”
I had to be sick into my jumper and just put it to the side.”
What other teams has Toni Duggan played for?
Toni currently plays for Everton F.C. after leaving Atletico Madrid in 2021.
She also played for Manchester City from 2014 until 2017 and Barcelona from 2017 to 2019.
She was signed by Atletico Madrid in 2019.
When did Toni Duggan make her England debut?
She completed her first cap for Hope Powell’s senior team in 2012 when England played against Croatia.
She scored her first international hat trick in a match against Turkey in 2013.
She scored another hat-trick in England’s World Cup qualifying game against Montenegro in April 2014.
In 2015, Toni was part of the England team for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
England secured a bronze medal and were congratulated by Prince William at a reception held at Kensington Palace.
Toni was given 179 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honor the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.