Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

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

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

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"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.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, 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 side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. 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 seeing her play a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more 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 experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.