Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the first English team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

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

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European 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'm confident my efforts in practice 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 requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. 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 greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. 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 squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"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 possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

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

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Team-mate a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got in tight, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is regularly able 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 attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.