Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy 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 European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, 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 sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. 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 watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe 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 someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.