Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they became the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their continental crown.

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

The forward was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, 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 Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches 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. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight 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 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 best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having 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 defensively, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content 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 father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

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

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

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

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She is able 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 ends up scoring herself.