Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners 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 hit top form for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. 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 during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally 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 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 aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer 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 never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes 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 too close, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

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

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.