Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: 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 prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, 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 club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

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

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates 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."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. 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 extremely sore and injured. 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 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.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion 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.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) 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.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, 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 defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, 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 such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.