Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they became the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or 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 enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us 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 during the event 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 sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, 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.

"As players in the high 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 OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, she used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

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

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.