Amee Ruszkai headshot 1:1 author page

Ameé Ruszkai

Lead Women’s Football Writer

I'm a football writer with a sharp focus on the women's game, particularly in England and Europe. I grew up playing the sport myself, so know first-hand the extremely limited visibility and small profile it used to have, making its transformation in the past few years all the more incredible to have watched unfold. I have a keen eye on the next generation of talent to take the game forward, heading up the women's side of GOAL's NXGN series, and, as a big sports fan in general, I'm also a big follower of the men's game, especially the Premier League and EFL.

My Football Story: My earliest football memories are of watching my beloved Bradford City battle relegation and administration alongside my grandad, having held a season ticket at Valley Parade since the 2003-04 season. Fortunately, times would get better through promotion and some notable cupsets. There was always plenty of top-level football on the television at home to balance things out, too, with La Liga action proving to be a particular favourite of mine growing up.

Areas of Expertise:

  • In-Depth Analysis of England's Lionesses
  • Women's Football's Wonderkids
  • Women's Super League Analysis
  • Ballon d'Or Feminin & Major Tournament Power Rankings
  • Stories Across the Women's Champions League & Europe

Favourite Footballing Memory: Watching Bradford City beat Arsenal on penalties in the League Cup in the 2012-23 season, as part of an historic run to the final, despite being a fourth-tier side. Swansea had our number big time at Wembley but fortunately we would be back a few months later, as I watched them win promotion for the first time in my time as a season-ticket holder, beating Northampton 3-0.

Articles by Ameé Ruszkai
  1. Williamson a risk worth taking in Arsenal's UWCL charge

    As Arsenal hosted Lyon in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final, there was no shortage of bad news when it came to team news. Steph Catley hadn't recovered from a calf injury in time to participate, with Beth Mead also ruled out of the game due to personal reasons. Then, on the day, Chloe Kelly was absent due to a minor muscle issue. Fortunately, there was one huge returnee to cushion the various blows: Leah Williamson.

  2. Man City pursuing deals for Arsenal duo Mead & McCabe

    Beth Mead and Katie McCabe are both attracting interest from Manchester City as their respective Arsenal contracts prepare to come to an end, according to a report. Rumours of McCabe's departure have been rife for a while and now it appears she could be joined by her Gunners' team-mate at her next destination, in a move that would see Mead join long-time partner Vivianne Miedema in Manchester.

  3. Kearns explains how Villa doctor saved her life amid miscarriage

    England international Missy Bo Kearns has opened up on her devastating miscarriage for the first time and revealed how the medical team at Aston Villa "saved my life" as she was given a "shock" sepsis diagnosis. The Lionesses midfielder announced that she was pregnant with her first child back in March and has now sat down for a lengthy interview on the heartbreak that has occurred since, hoping it will help others.

  4. Smith comes up big as Arsenal take lead in UWCL semis

    Arsenal will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Lyon, after the defending European champions beat the eight-time winners 2-1 in north London on Sunday. Jule Brand had given OL an early lead but two calamitous errors in the visitors' defence proved costly, as Ingrid Engen's own goal levelled the scores up to set the scene for Olivia Smith, who had been a livewire all afternoon, to win the game late on.

  5. Arsenal without Mead & Catley for UWCL semi-final

    Arsenal will be without Beth Mead and Steph Catley for the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final against Lyon this weekend, with the latter's absence placing further focus on the fitness of the recently returned Leah Williamson. The England captain played her first minutes in over a month while on international duty last week, the timing of which could be potentially vital for the Gunners' European title defence.

  6. Arsenal ace Caldentey still has time to boost Ballon d'Or bid

    When Arsenal stunned Barcelona to win the Women's Champions League last year, there were so many individuals who deserved to be singled out for praise. Be it the exceptional turnaround overseen by interim-turned-permanent coach Renee Slegers, the goal-scoring exploits of Alessia Russo or the timeless class of Kim Little in midfield, there were so many reasons for the success. It was hard, though, not to be drawn in particular to the impact of Mariona Caldentey.

  7. Barca's Batlle nears Arsenal move as Putellas attracts WSL interest

    Barcelona are reportedly 'close' to losing star defender Ona Batlle to Arsenal on a free transfer, with speculation surrounding the futures of two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and key centre-back Mapi Leon also growing as the pair near the ends of their current contracts in Catalunya. London City Lionesses have shown interest in both, as the newly-promoted Women's Super League side look to make a splash in the summer transfer window.

  1. Winners & losers from the Lionesses key WWC qualifiers

    Advantage, England. This international break was always going to feel decisive in the race between the Lionesses and Spain to secure the only automatic qualification spot for next year’s Women’s World Cup available in this cut-throat qualifying group, and it was the reigning European champions, rather than the world champions, who came out on top.

  2. Russo scores again as Hampton makes sure of Lionesses win

    Alessia Russo's clinical finish and Hannah Hampton's world-class goalkeeping allowed England to maintain their perfect record in Women's World Cup qualifying on Saturday, as the Lionesses edged to a nervy 1-0 win over Iceland. Sarina Wiegman's side were coming into the game fresh off the back of a huge win over Spain at Wembley and they preserved their lead at the top of the group with another three points, even if it was far from convincing at times.

  3. Williamson injury update provided ahead of Lionesses' Iceland clash

    England boss Sarina Wiegman has provided an update on the fitness of Lionesses captain Leah Williamson, who missed the win over Spain on Tuesday night. Wiegman was hopeful that the Arsenal star would be able to play a part in Saturday's clash with Iceland, as England continue their World Cup qualifying campaign, and the status of her availability has now been revisited ahead of that crucial game.

  4. England hero Hampton proves class is permanent

    As the clock ticked into the 90th minute at Wembley on Tuesday evening, England were under the most pressure they had been all game. Having taken the lead with less than three minutes played, through Lauren Hemp's acrobatic effort, the Lionesses had done well to prevent Spain really putting them under the cosh, creating most of the better opportunities for themselves instead. However, in the dying moments, they would need Hannah Hampton, their world-class goalkeeper, to come up with something big.

  5. Russo beats fellow England & Arsenal star to WSL accolade

    Lionesses star Alessia Russo has been named the Women's Super League Player of the Month for March, after a rampant run that saw the striker bag four goals and one assist in just three outings for Arsenal. Russo had plenty of competition for the award, including from one England and Gunners team-mate as well as Golden Boot front-runner Khadija Shaw, but she managed to come out on top as Arsenal scooped up two of the league's three monthly accolades.

  6. Lionesses get another vital win over Spain as Hemp delivers

    Lauren Hemp's early strike gave England yet another win over Spain on Tuesday night, the Lionesses emerging 1-0 victors in their first meeting with La Roja since last summer's European Championship final. England were winners on that occasion, on penalties, and they came out on top again here as their third victory in their last four encounters with the world champions gave them a notable advantage in a cut-throat World Cup qualifying group.

  7. James has X-factor Lionesses need to beat Spain

    Since their meeting in the quarter-finals of the 2022 European Championships, England have faced no opponent more frequently than Spain - and yet, Lauren James has only featured as a fully fit starter in one of those encounters. Fittingly, given the form the Chelsea star is in and the prominent role she is likely to play when the pair meet again on Tuesday, that was last year at Wembley, the setting again for the next installment of this growing rivalry.

  8. How Spain bounced back from Euro 2025 to be World Cup favourites

    Spain's devastation after defeat in last summer's European Championship final was palpable. There is perhaps no crueller way to lose than on penalties and that theory was backed up by the heartbreak on show by La Roja's players and staff after England fought back to take the game in Basel to extra time and then defeat the world champions 3-1 via spot-kicks. "Very cruel," was how Aitana Bonmati, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner, put it. "It will hurt for some time."