Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, 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'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, 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 was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

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

"As players 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. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player a teammate often delivered 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 marker got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.