Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward made history 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 helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches 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. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously 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 don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope 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 agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

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

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.