Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward made history with her club as they emerged as the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their continental title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games 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 complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. 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 squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams 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 entire occasion was just being very composed, 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 aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, 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 press and defensively, we were highly concentrated 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. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

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

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She is able 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 finishes personally.