Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the first English team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their continental crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

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

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the PFA 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 I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. 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. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. 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 elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, 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 wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, 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. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability 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.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.