Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they became the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

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

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.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. 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 best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, 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 wanted to do.

"Naturally 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 that often.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

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

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

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes 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 tough situations, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.