Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first 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 successful retention of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

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

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

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off 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 complete rollercoaster. 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 really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view 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 the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against 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 main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, 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 wanted to do.

"Obviously 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 frequently.

"As players in the 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 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 got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

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

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.