A GIRL hoping to become world champion of a popular football trading card game is set to step onto the pitch at the Champions League final.

Nine-year-old Chloe Porter from Darlington became UK champion at the grand final of the 2017 Match Attax Championships earlier this month in London after impressing onlookers with her encyclopaedic knowledge of football.

She will now go on to battle it out for the UEFA Champions League World Match Attax Championships on Friday in Cardiff.

Match Attax is a statistics-based football trading card game that involves picking a team out of a £100m budget and using tactics and football knowledge to defeat other players.

“Collecting Match Attax has been my favourite hobby for a few years,” said Chloe, who began her by winning a regional heat in Newcastle earlier this year.

“To be able to call myself a Match Attax Champion means the world to me.

“My friends are really happy and hope to get involved next year,” she added.

During her trip to London, Chloe was invited to be a mascot at the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Middlesbrough.

She will also perform a similar role at the Champions League final between Spanish champions Real Madrid and winners of the Italian league Juventus at the Principality Stadium.

Chloe’s mother, Trudie, said she was “over the moon” by her daughter’s triumph.

“We are all really proud and excited for her - Chloe has really come into her own,” she said.

“Chloe loves Match Attax and she loves football – she loves all the statistics and the numbers behind it.”

Trudie said Chloe was inspired to get involved with them game by her football-loving family - particularly her older brother Luke.

“She couldn’t avoid it,” she said.

“She hasn’t been doing it that long – only about two or three seasons – but she has a full set for both the Premier League and the Champions League.

“She is standing up for the girls – out of the six that went to London, she was the only girl.”

Rod Pearson, marketing director for Topps, the makers of Match Attax, said: “Each year the competition becomes even tougher as it grows bigger and bigger.

“Chloe proved her skill and knowledge of Match Attax to defeat five other regional champions from across the UK - we hope to see her return next year to defend her championship.”