Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association'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 Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named 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:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

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. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

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

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players 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 led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.