Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association'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 her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

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:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard 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 requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from 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 complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, 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 win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling 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 trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion 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 couple of occasions 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 was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders 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 long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.