Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with her club as they became the first English team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

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

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, 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 tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion 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 strategy 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 frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately 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 father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer 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 experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

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

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