Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with her club as they emerged as the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

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

Russo netted twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

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

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

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

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

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 believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker scored 12 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 competition 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 (9.7) than all her peers.

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

Team-mate a teammate regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.