Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the first British team to win 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.

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

Russo was named the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

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 Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association 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 enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players 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 determination and toughness. And we were aware 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 occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion 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 wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

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

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable 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 opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.