Football, like life, is full of stories of overcoming, but the one that Pauline Peyraud-Magnin has had to star in is one of the toughest there can be. Just two days before the start of the European Championship, the former Atlético player and France's starting goalkeeper received tragic news. The one who had been her sentimental partner until a few weeks ago appeared dead in the Turin apartment that the couple shared until her separation. The causes of the death of Camille Nell, 27, are still unknown: “The investigation is ongoing and is being kept secret. The requests of the family have been, as far as possible, satisfied, ”said Turin prosecutor Enrico Arnaldi di Balme at the time.
Peyraud-Magnin, 30, joined Nell as a common-law partner in 2020, when she signed for Atletico Madrid and was the first French professional soccer player to speak openly about her sexual orientation. In the mattress team she played two seasons, winning the Super Cup last year against Barcelona. In her track record, this outstanding goalkeeper also has two Champions Leagues, won during her time with Olympique de Lyon, in addition to five League titles, four in France and one in England, with Arsenal.
Despite this harsh news, the now Juve goalkeeper decided to go ahead and stay focused with her team to play the European Championship in England, in which France debuted six days later against Italy. Peyraud-Magnin started in that and in all the games that France has played in the tournament, and he has done so with good figures. The French goalkeeper has only conceded three goals and managed to keep a clean sheet in the most momentous duel so far, the important quarter-final match against the Netherlands in Rotherham (1-0). Tonight (9pm, Milton Keynes), France will play the second semifinal of the European Championship against the almighty Germany, a team that has eight European trophies in its showcase and that will surely be one of the goalkeeper's greatest challenges in this tournament.
Despite living through one of the darkest chapters of her life, the French footballer has shown great resilience so far, overcoming her personal drama and managing to get France into their first semi-final in history.
