Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve 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 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 enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players 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 entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us 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 throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, 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 overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion 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.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion 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 couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

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

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

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

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.