Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with Arsenal 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 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 hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

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

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football 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 are within my power.

"Numerous elements 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 learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think 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.

"Facing the top sides 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 stands out from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion 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, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

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

The striker notched 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide 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 penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (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 regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before locating 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 team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.