Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became 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 the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

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

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"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 during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the elite athletes 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 entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

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

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement 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 got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

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

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.