Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of 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 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from 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, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, 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."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident 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 side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"As players 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. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play 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 too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.