Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering 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 successful retention of their continental crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA'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 her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and set up 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.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident 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 requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from 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 whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. 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 elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.