Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first English team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their continental title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard 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's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition 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 extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, 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 sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing 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. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her 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 believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she 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 all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

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

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.