Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

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

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun 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 arrive, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. 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 throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, 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 having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, 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 think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

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

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat 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 Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball 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 highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

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

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.