Alessia Russo marked a standout 2025-26 season earlier this month as she collected the England Women’s Player of the Year award. The Arsenal striker played in all 10 games of the international campaign, scoring five goals. It is the second occasion on which Russo has received the honour, having also been given the 2023-24 title.
The month of October was similarly prolific for Russo on the pitch. Having come runners up to World champions Spain in the group stage, Russo and the England side headed into the international break with a World Cup qualifier semi-final against Greece ahead of them.
... with a brace against Ukraine back in March and then the winner against Iceland one month later.
Russo herself had already put three goals to her name during the group stage, with a brace against Ukraine back in March and then the winner against Iceland one month later. In fine form, she doubled this tally over the course of the two legs. The 27-year-old first provided the assist for Georgia Stanway to open the scoring, before finding the bottom corner herself for England’s third goal in a comprehensive 3-1 win. At the King Power Stadium four days later, victory was only more comfortable, Russo bagging a brace in a 5-0 thrashing.
Russo will, as ever, be keen to get firing in front of goal and maintain her best form over the remainder of the season. There is perhaps the added element of the 2027 World Cup being on the horizon, that is if the Three Lions do indeed qualify. It will be two rematches with the Ukrainians that stand in their way, with clashes in both November and December.
It will be two rematches with the Ukrainians that stand in their way, with clashes in both November and December.
Manager Serena Wiegman will certainly be attempting to reiterate the group stage encounters as closely as possible, if not just Russo’s performances alone, the latter’s brace contributing to a 9-1 aggregate victory. The World Cup remains the elusive dream of the English players and fans alike, coming within touching distance the last three iterations now.
... having been nominated on a 30-player shortlist for the Women’s Ballon d’Or (Ballon d’Or Feminine) in September.
Russo’s individual brilliance hasn’t remained unnoticed on the wider stage either, having been nominated on a 30-player shortlist for the Women’s Ballon d’Or (Ballon d’Or Feminine) in September. Many felt that she, alongside Arsenal teammate Mariona Caldentey, were unlucky to finish third and second respectively in the 2025 rankings, with both crucial to the Gunners’ Champions League winning campaign.
Of course Russo was also part of England’s European Championship winning squad, netting twice across the tournament. Hopes of improving on last year’s podium finish may be quite ambitious having gone without trophies with club and country this time around, but Russo’s nomination nonetheless emphasises a top-class individual season, in which she totalled 29 goals overall.