Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"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 I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"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 Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think 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.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion 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 seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

The striker scored twelve 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 most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

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

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

If a defender got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches 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, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.