Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated 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 know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision 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 come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"I think 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.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and out of possession, 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. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, 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 experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team 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 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 applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can 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.