Alessia Russo: Five facts about England's record-breaking striker
Russo scores hat-trick as Arsenal beat Benfica
- Published
Alessia Russo has become the highest-scoring English player in Women's Champions League history after hitting a hat-trick for Arsenal.
The 27-year-old scored all three goals in a 3-0 home victory over Portuguese side Benfica.
It takes Russo to 23 goals in the competition, two more than former England and Chelsea forward Fran Kirby.
"It feels really nice," Russo told UEFA. "I love playing in the Champions League and I love scoring goals. To score a hat-trick is really special."
Here are five more facts about the history-making Lioness.
Alessia Russo named Lioness of the year
- Published12 October
1. Where it all started
Russo was a Man United fan growing up, a team she later went on to play for
Russo grew up near Maidstone in Kent.
She remembers racing home from school, dropping off her bag and playing football on a small patch of grass until her mum called her in for dinner.
"At that young age, I would play anywhere – my position was wherever the ball was. I often played in midfield as I wanted to be on the ball as much as possible," says Russo.
She played for local teams before joining Charlton Athletic and later spent time with Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Euro 2022 winner Alessia Russo: After school I would tag along with a boys' team
2. Russo has been named England's best player twice
Supporters voted Russo the England Women's Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season. She won it again for 2025-26 after scoring five times in ten England matches during the season.
Russo said receiving an award chosen by supporters was "really special".
3. She's won a WSL golden boot
Russo scored 12 goals for Arsenal during the 2024-25 Women's Super League season.
That earned her a share of the Golden Boot, the prize given to the league's top scorer, an award she shared alongside Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw.
4. She is a European champion with club and country
Russo helped Arsenal win the Women's Champions League in 2025, when they defeated Barcelona in the final.
She has also won two European Championships with England, in 2022 and 2025.
In the 2025 final, Russo scored England's equaliser against Spain before the Lionesses won the trophy on penalties
England's epic Euros win in pictures
- Published28 July 2025
5. Ella Toone is like a sister to her
Russo and fellow Lioness Ella Toone met at an England youth camp when they were around 12 or 13. They later played together for Manchester United and have remained close friends, even though they now play for different clubs. Russo has said Toone is "like my sister".
