Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first 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 title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

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, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve league 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 Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

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

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. 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. The schedule is relentless.

"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.

"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."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day 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 trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally 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 retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer 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 doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding 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 team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.