Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they became the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form 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 top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

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

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes 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 were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. 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 assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that 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. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope 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 doing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.