Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

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

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side 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 Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward 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 past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, 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've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

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

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her 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 notched 12 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 constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

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

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. 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 locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is regularly able 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 attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.