Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: Arsenal and England

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

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

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

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects 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. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall 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 I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content 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 few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish 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 say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker 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 enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.