Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know 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 continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, 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. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"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.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, 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 side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.