Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects 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 greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] 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.

"In my view 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 occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. 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 plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

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

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

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

Team-mate a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.