Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club 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 helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or 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 previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from 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 whole tournament was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. 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 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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

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

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.