Female Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard 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 continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall 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. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And we were aware 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 occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion 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 trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender 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 opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. 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 applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.