Alessia Russo: Manchester United and England forward ‘still just Alessia’ despite Puskas nomination for backheeled goal | Football News

With one swish of the back of her right boot, Englishwoman Alessia Russo became a household name.

Having missed a sitter in the semi-final of the European Championship against Sweden, not many strikers will try to finish backheeled, let alone produce one in the back of the net.

Russo goes back to the goal, between two defenders. Two more in line, including the goalkeeper. They all watched as the 23-year-old put a backheel between the legs of goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl to secure the Lionesses’ place in the final.

The video, naturally, went viral — and the accolades just kept coming. Russo’s brilliant finish was one of 11 goals nominated for the 2022 FIFA Puskas Award – given annually for the best goal of the year.

But the height of his recognition on the world stage did nothing for Russo’s ego.

“I still see myself as Alessia. I grew up in a small town,” she said. “My family is very close to me, I think it’s a compliment to everyone – and I think – I’m a light person, very simple, but I have high expectations.

“Even an award like this: it still feels strange to be nominated. I hope I can go on and get more than just this. As a female soccer player and just the person that I am, I have to stay grounded and have bigger dreams for filled in.”

Recognition on the shortlist is just another example of the popularity of women’s football.

Beth Mead won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award last year, and two other female players (Amandine Henry from Lyon and Barcelona’s Salma Paralluelo) are on the Puskas list along with Russo – the fourth year in a row three women have been nominated. When the competition first started in 2009, it took two years for the first female player to make the list.

The award has previously been won by Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – and it’s a prize that the likes of Wayne Rooney and even Lionel Messi have missed out on.

“All those names are heroes to me,” Russo said. “Carli Lloyd [nominated for the award in 2015] also a great player that I enjoyed watching as a child.

“Even the players who are now… [Kylian] Mbappe – I love watching him play – and Richarlison too, all top scorers. For me as a young striker, I like players like that. To even have your name in the mix of legends that have been around in the past is a real honor.”

Whether Russo gets the Puskas prize or not, her strike against Sweden will go down as a great goal in women’s football history.

It shows not only the quality of the women’s game, but also the confidence that young players have to show off their skills. The day after Russo’s goal against Sweden, the youngsters at Bearsted – his boyhood club – were on their backheels in training.

“I don’t know why, but they just wanted to add it to the session! So it was really cool – I was sent some great videos of the whole thing, which was great,” added Russo.

“Just a lot of young kids recreating it, that’s the biggest thing for me. The whole message for the Euros is that we want to inspire the next generation of young boys and girls, and as a kid I remember trying to recreate the goals of the people I saw . in the World Cup or the Champions League, so that he can do my goal as a ‘pinch me’ moment.

And with Russo’s nomination coming in the same week as huge crowds turned out for Women’s Super League matches at the Emirates Stadium and Leigh Sports Village, the forward believes goals like hers are one of the reasons why so many fans have flocked to the turnstiles.

“Our football has spoken now,” he said. “After the Euros and this season’s performances in the WSL, we are attracting the crowd by playing good football and connecting with them. [the fans].

“This is an important part of women’s football – we respect the fans because we have been there when there weren’t many. and made them feel like part of the club.”

So the big question is: can Russo win the prize? With World Cup and Champions League final goals to contend for, it will be tough. After all, no woman has won the Puskas prize and only three female players have been named in the top three.

“Having three women up for a huge award. For one of us to win it would be amazing, and it would show how much more the game has come,” she said.

“The competition is very high, some of the goals there are ridiculous. But it would be amazing, it would be great if a woman could win the award. But I’m sure the fans will choose who they think is their favourite, so we’ll see what happens.”

Vote for the top three goals of 2022 to decide the winner of the FIFA Puskas Award on the FIFA website here.