Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

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

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named 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 I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament 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, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the team, 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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately 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 got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, 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 believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 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 competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.