Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the pioneering English team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.