Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

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

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 WSL 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.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"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 learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. 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 what it takes.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally 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 were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously 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 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 winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

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

The striker scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

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

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.