Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the pioneering English team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net 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 honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view 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 the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

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

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner 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. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

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

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got in tight, she used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession 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 result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.