Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

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

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know 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's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. 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 grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously 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 job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league 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.

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

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

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.