Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the pioneering 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 final and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players 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 entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content 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 few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to share the Golden Boot.

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 recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

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

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

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.