Jess Carter Named Guardian Footballer of the Year for Courage and Success
Jess Carter has been named the Guardian Footballer of the Year for her courage in addressing racist abuse during Euro 2025 and her role in winning major titles.
The racist abuse began after England's opening 2-1 defeat to France, with Carter receiving abusive Instagram direct messages which she later reported. Encouraged by her sister, Carter spoke out against the abuse and spoke of the support from England's leadership and head coach Sarina Wiegman, who backed a joint message and the decision to stop taking the knee as a gesture of protest. The police are investigating the social-media abuse, and a man is due to appear in court on 9 January.
England had planned to stand for the knee before the Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy, but this plan was not executed. Carter started in the final against Spain after being dropped for the semi-final. She shared that she felt she underperformed and experienced pre-final anxiety but trusted manager Sarina Wiegman, valuing their honest private conversations and tactical decisions. Carter also came on in added time of extra time in the final, contributing as England won on penalties.
Following Euro 2025, Carter joined Gotham FC and helped them win the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) title. She left Chelsea due to unhappiness and emphasized that she prioritizes happiness. Carter also highlighted the heightened scrutiny faced particularly by black players, including when missing penalties.
