Women's Footballer of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

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

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident 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 number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. 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."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players 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 very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. 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. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish 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 doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger 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 aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.