Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

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

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

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.

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

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

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

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. 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 what it takes.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

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 believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing 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 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."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope 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 agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

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

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got too close, she used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

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

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.