Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

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

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

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

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

Her thoughts on personal development 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 are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. 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 what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, 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 in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play 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 was one of the best ever.

"I believe 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 notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

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

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

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