Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL 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 PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

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

"I think 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 what it takes.

"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."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion 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 trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, 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 believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

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 all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

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

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

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