Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to win 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.

She scored in the European Championship final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

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

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward 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 those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. 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 important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players 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 throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, 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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got in tight, she used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

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

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.