Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

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

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. 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 important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"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. The schedule is relentless.

"I think 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 top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling 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 game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. 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 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 never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

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

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.