Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. 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 grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the strategy 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 their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer 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 didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness 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 finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an release option 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.