Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners 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 club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward 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 co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard 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 tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off 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 entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

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

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament 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 occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling 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 believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away 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 OK 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 father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

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

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

If a defender got too close, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.