Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season 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 Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent 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 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 recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, 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 grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion 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 game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable 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 defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

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

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.