Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted 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 Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come 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 so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, 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. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the team, 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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. 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 agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker 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 she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

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

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.