Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey have both been shortlisted for the 2025 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award after an outstanding season that saw Arsenal reclaim their place at the summit of European football.
Both players made history with the club as they became the first British side since Arsenal in 2008 to win the Women’s Champions League. Russo was also central to England’s successful defence of their European Championship crown, scoring in the final and continuing her rise as one of the continent’s most decisive forwards.
Russo finished as joint top scorer in the Women’s Super League, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw, scoring 12 league goals and assisting two more.
She was named the Football Writers’ Association’s Women’s Footballer of the Year, nominated for, and robbed of, the 2025 Ballon d’Or, and included in both the Professional Footballers’ Association and UEFA Champions League Teams of the Year.
Reflecting on her season, Russo said: “From the Champions League to the Euros, winning both trophies, I think when I’m retired, I’ll look back saying that they were the best four months ever. It was incredible.
“The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster,” she added of England’s triumph. “Winning in 2022 changed the game for a lot of different reasons and really elevated women’s football. To do it back to back was just incredible.”
For Caldentey, the nomination caps a near-perfect first season in England following her move from Barcelona. The Spanish forward was instrumental in Arsenal’s second Champions League triumph, providing creativity and maturity while adapting seamlessly to life in the WSL.
“It’s an honour to be recognised,” Caldentey told the BBC. “It was not easy to come in a new club, Arsenal, but I just really enjoy playing football here. It was a really special journey winning the Champions League and we’re so happy that Arsenal could win it again after 18 years.”
She also spoke about Spain’s run to the Euro 2025 final, where she scored against England before losing in a penalty shootout. “It still hurts a bit when I think about the final,” she admitted. “But we need to remember that we made history because we have never played even a semi-final of the Euros, so it means we continue making history, but of course the main goal was winning.”
Caldentey was named WSL Player of the Year, finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or, and was also included in both the UEFA and PFA Teams of the Year.
The pair are joined on the BBC shortlist by Aitana Bonmatí, Hannah Hampton, and Patri Guijarro, with public voting open until 9am GMT on 31 October. The winner will be announced on 25 November.
Previous recipients of the award include Barbra Banda, Mary Earps, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Lucy Bronze, Ada Hegerberg, and Asisat Oshoala.