Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long 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 last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

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 past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. 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 you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware 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 occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion 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 their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that 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 watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.