Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the first English team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

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

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

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"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.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision 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 big games come around, the greater your experience, 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 remember after the last-eight 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.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. 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 grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion 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 the ability, 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 they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. 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 believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, she used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.