Women's Footballer of the Year contender Russo

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control. There's so many different aspects 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 Arsenal."

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies. I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us 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 grit and resilience."

"Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they became the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship crown. She scored in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball."

Alessia Russo, 26, is a forward for Arsenal and England who played a central role in both teams' successes. Russo helped Arsenal become the first British team since 2008 to win the Women's Champions League and scored in England's Euro 2025 final. She was the WSL joint top scorer with 12 goals and two assists, shared the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw, and won the Football Writers' Association women's footballer of the year. Russo received a Ballon d'Or nomination. She credits enjoyment, hard training, coaching, and match experience for her improvement and described Euro 2025 as emotionally and physically intense, won through grit and resilience.

Read at www.bbc.com