Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

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

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the first English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

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

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

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

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. 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 I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams 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 we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. 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 plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that 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 seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

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

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet 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.