LONDON (AFP) – Alessia Russo shot to fame as one of the faces of England’s Euro 2022 victory on home soil and is now closing in on conquering the world with the Lionesses.
Russo scored four times at the Euro, but her stunning backheel finish through the legs of Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl in a 4-0 semi-final rout saw her instantly become a social media sensation.
Sponsors flocked to the 24-year-old, who could reportedly become the first Women’s Super League (WSL) player to earn more than GBP1 million-a-year through bonuses on England duty, her club salary and commercial deals.
Ahead of the World Cup, she fronted an Adidas campaign alongside David Beckham, whose daughter is among her cast of fans. Arsenal saw a world record GBP500,000 bid for a women’s player turned down by Manchester United in January despite Russo having only six months left on her contract.
She has since joined the Gunners on a free transfer.
