England striker Fran Kirby has revealed how a personal tragedy and her subsequent battle with depression have motivated her to succeed.
Kirby, who fired England's opener in a 2-1 victory over Mexico at the World Cup, quit football four years ago when suffering from delayed depression following the sudden death of her mother three years earlier.
Now, at the age of 21, she is once again enjoying life and her career with both Reading and England.
Kirby told FIFA TV: "When I look back it was a difficult time period for me and my family but one that we've pulled through all together and it just motivates me now more than anything.
"It's something that I've managed to get over and I use it as motivation and that's probably one of the reasons why I did feel so happy when I did score today, just knowing the journey that I have been on and I know now it was the right decision to (return to football)."
England boss Mark Sampson compared Kirby to Argentina and Barcelona striker Lionel Messi after watching her drive home a fine individual effort in the 70th minute.
"Going back to the 'mini Messi' shout, I think it's pretty incredible to be labelled after such a great footballer," she added.
"It's really great for me to hear that he's got that much faith in me as a player and to put his trust in me, to give me my first start is absolutely incredible and obviously to get the goal and just being able to repay Mark and the girls for how well they've treated me coming into the group.
"This time last year I probably wasn't even in and around it so it's a credit to all the girls and how we played."
Substitute Karen Carney added England's second goal in the Group F game before Fabiola Ibarra reduced the deficit late on in Moncton.
Source: PA
