Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, 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 Professional Footballers' Association 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 my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision 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 important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, 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 occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. 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 OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

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

The striker scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

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

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was fouled more 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, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.