Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the pioneering British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

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

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the squad, 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 main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"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 frequently.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.