Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners 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 defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the FWA's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

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

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something 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 Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. 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 occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling 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 believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that 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. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. 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 say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

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