Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the first English team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

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

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard 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 continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

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

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"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 the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that 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 watching her a few times 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 was one of the best ever.

"I think 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 always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.