Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and provided assists 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.

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 I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

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 Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. 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 squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, 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 greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

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

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.