Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the first English team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker 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 co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the European 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 I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League 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 trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having 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 defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately 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 hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

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

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

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