Alessia Russo named Player of the Year 2026

Thousands of fans have cast their votes to name Alessia Russo as the England Women’s Player of the Year 2025–26, connected by EE.

The Arsenal and Lionesses forward, who also won the award in 2023-24, topped the fan vote ahead of Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton, who placed second and third respectively.

Russo played a key role for England throughout the 2025-26 season, featuring in all ten of the Lionesses’ matches and scoring five goals. The forward started nine of those games, including all six of England’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying fixtures.

Among her highlights during the campaign were a brace in England’s emphatic 6-1 victory against Ukraine in March and the winning goal in a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Iceland in Reykjavik.

Russo received the award from a group of girls representing the Alessia Russo Foundation, who were invited guests to the Lionesses’ open training session at the start of the international window.

Reacting to the award, Russo said: "To receive the award is really special, particularly as it comes directly from the fans. I am so grateful for their support. A big thank you also to my teammates, it is always about the collective. I absolutely love playing for England every moment I get. Together we're looking forward and hopefully we will go on to have a really big season."

England are preparing for the second leg of their FIFA Women’s World Cup Round 1 play-off against Greece after Friday's 3-1 victory in Heraklion, with Russo scoring her 31st international goal and joining Georgia Stanway and Maya Le Tissier on the score sheet.

The Lionesses now turn their attention to the return fixture at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Tuesday 13 October (7.30pm), as they look to progress to the next stage of qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.

Tickets for Tuesday’s game remain on sale here.