Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the first English team to claim victory in 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 continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association 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 I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. 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 comfortable you become."

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 remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. 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 determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, 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 aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. 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 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 couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

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

Team-mate a teammate regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates 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 can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.