Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as 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 continental title.

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

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. 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 I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players 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 very composed, like we knew 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.

"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 that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. 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. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

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

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

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

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

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is regularly able 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 opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.