Alessia Russo, Arsenal and England forward, has been awarded the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Women’s Player of the Year award.
Russo, the top scorer for the Gunners, currently leads the race for the Women’s Super League (WSL) Golden Boot with 12 goals and two assists in 20 matches.
Last year’s winner, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, tied in goals with Russo despite playing only 14 matches, finishing second in this year’s voting. Russo’s Arsenal teammate, Mariona Caldentey, took third place, while English defender Millie Bright finished fourth.
Russo has been fundamental in Arsenal’s push for European success this season, helping the club reach their first Champions League final in 18 years. The Gunners will face Barcelona, the current champions, in Lisbon on May 24. Russo has scored seven goals in the competition, the second-highest figure this season.
At the national level, she also played a key role in securing a top-three finish in the WSL for Arsenal, earning the 26-year-old a nomination for the WSL Player of the Season award at the Women’s Professional League Awards.
Arsenal could finish second in the league with a win over their former club, Manchester United, in their season finale on Saturday.
