Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the first English 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 successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling 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 the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

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

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"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 she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker notched 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 box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

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

Team-mate a teammate often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.