Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward made history with her club as they became the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects 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 the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, 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 occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew 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 aimed to achieve.

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

"We as athletes in the high 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 ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that 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 few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

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

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.