Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

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

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA 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'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, 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 tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight 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.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

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

On the Champions League 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 what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan 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 their skill is exceptional. 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 content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, 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 experiencing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 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 she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament 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 environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

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

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.