Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football 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 are within my power.

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

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament 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 extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament 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 elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day 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 trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated 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 winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate 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 believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

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

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger 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 outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender 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 fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

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

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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

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