Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy 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 continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

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

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, 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. We have great coaches 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 comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won during the event 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 best teams in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

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

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, 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 highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

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

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.