Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. 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. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept 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 job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker 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 competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. 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 opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.