Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know 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's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"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 recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think 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 the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes 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 so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. 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 dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think 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 greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

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 having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

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

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.