Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England 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 all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. 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 squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes 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 knew we'd done the work, 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'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 that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that 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 father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign 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 penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

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

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

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

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.