Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved 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 those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, 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. 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. 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.

"You're playing against 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 main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

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

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

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

She uses 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 tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.