Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the first English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

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

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, 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, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"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 top sides in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

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

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes 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, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

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