Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as 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, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, 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 was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And we were aware 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 sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling 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 trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. 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 dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one 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, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control 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 opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.