Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the FWA's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, 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 continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"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.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. 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 didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.