Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward made history with her club as they became the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses 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 throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward 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 top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve league goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Russo on how she feels she has improved 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 that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. 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 total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"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 what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated 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 content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions 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 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 someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, 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 beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, 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, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet 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 ends up scoring herself.