Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

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

The forward was honored as 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 Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

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

"Facing 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 main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew 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.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it frequently.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end 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 couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve 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 Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.