Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the pioneering British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club 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.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects 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 continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, 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 was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, 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 grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

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

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League 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.

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

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 long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.