Alessia Russo has been nominated for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or after producing another outstanding campaign for Arsenal, earning recognition among the world’s leading female footballers.
The England international has been included on the prestigious 30-player shortlist announced on 8 September, marking another significant achievement in her growing career. Russo’s nomination comes after she established herself as one of Arsenal’s most important attacking players during the 2025–26 season.
The striker’s numbers underline why she has received another Ballon d’Or nomination. According to the official Ballon d’Or profile, Russo made 50 appearances during the campaign, scoring 29 goals and providing nine assists. She also helped Arsenal lift the Champions Cup, adding an important major trophy to an already impressive individual season.
For Russo, the nomination represents continued recognition at the highest level of the women’s game. She was also nominated last year and finished third in the voting, demonstrating how highly her performances have been regarded internationally.
Her progress at Arsenal has been particularly impressive. Since joining the club in 2023, Russo has developed into a key figure in the forward line, combining physical strength, intelligent movement and an increasingly consistent goalscoring record.
Her ability to contribute beyond simply scoring has also made her valuable to Arsenal. The forward can link play, bring teammates into attacking situations and create opportunities, while her movement inside the penalty area makes her a constant threat to opposition defences.
England Football also highlighted Russo’s successful 2025–26 campaign, reporting that she finished the season with 22 goals and eight assists across the Women’s Super League and Champions League combined.
The latest nomination also places Russo alongside some of the biggest names in women’s football. The shortlist includes Barcelona stars, Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw, OL Lyonnes defender Wendie Renard and former Ballon d’Or winners Alexia Putellas, among others.
Russo’s nomination is especially notable because the women’s award has entered a new chapter following Aitana Bonmatí’s absence from this year’s shortlist. Bonmatí had won the previous three editions but was not nominated this time after missing a significant portion of the season through injury.
The 2026 ceremony will take place in London on 26 October, when the winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or will be revealed.
For Arsenal supporters, Russo’s inclusion is another proud moment and further evidence of the striker’s rise among the elite players in world football. After finishing third last year, she now has another opportunity to challenge for the individual prize.
Whether she can go one step further and claim the award remains to be seen, but her nomination confirms that Russo’s exceptional performances have once again placed her firmly in the conversation at the very top of women’s football.
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