Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

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

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"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. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, 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, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League 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 strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK 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 father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet 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 lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.