Alessia Russo produced a memorable performance for Arsenal, scoring three goals in a 3-0 victory over Benfica to become England’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Women’s Champions League.
The 27-year-old striker opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a superb sweeping finish, taking her tally in the competition to 21 goals and drawing level with former Chelsea forward Fran Kirby.
Russo soon moved ahead of Kirby with a well-directed header from a corner, giving Arsenal greater control of the match. She completed her hat-trick from the penalty spot, bringing her European goal total to 23 and sealing an important victory at Meadow Park.
The result also gave Arsenal consecutive wins for the first time this season, providing a welcome boost for manager Renee Slegers and her team.
Renee Slegers Praises Russo’s Outstanding Qualities
Arsenal manager Renee Slegers was full of admiration for Russo following her record-breaking performance, highlighting both her character and her contribution to the team.
Slegers described the striker as an exceptional person who consistently shows humility, kindness and commitment to those around her. She also expressed how fortunate she felt to work with the England international.
Russo’s latest display represents a significant turnaround after a difficult beginning to the campaign. Having failed to score in her first five appearances of the season, she has now registered nine goals across her past seven matches for club and country.
Speaking after the game, Russo expressed her happiness at contributing to the victory, explaining how much she enjoys competing in the Champions League and finding the back of the net.
Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord also celebrated her teammate’s achievement. Foord, who won the penalty after being brought down by Catarina Amado, said Russo’s determination in training had made the three-goal performance unsurprising.
Foord appeared to add a fourth goal late in the match, but the effort was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
Russo’s Hat-Trick Renews Debate Over Her Best Position
Russo’s performance against Benfica has reignited discussion about where she should play in Arsenal’s attacking setup.
Despite finishing last season as the club’s leading Women’s Super League goalscorer with 13 goals, Russo has frequently been used in the number 10 position under Slegers rather than as the team’s central striker.
The tactical decision has divided Arsenal supporters, particularly as the team’s attacking output has struggled this season. With only seven goals in the WSL at this stage, Arsenal have found scoring difficult and were trailing league leaders Manchester City by 10 points after seven matches.
Against Benfica, Russo demonstrated the advantages of playing closer to goal. Wearing the captain’s armband, she played a central role in Arsenal’s attacking moves and delivered the clinical finishing that had been missing earlier in the campaign.
Former Arsenal forward Lianne Sanderson praised Russo’s ability inside the penalty area, arguing that her finishing qualities make her particularly effective as a centre-forward. Former Gunners defender Gilly Flaherty similarly highlighted the striker’s instinctive movement and willingness to attack crosses.
Russo’s second goal illustrated those strengths. She reacted sharply to Steph Catley’s corner, directed a header down towards the ground and watched the ball bounce into the bottom-left corner.
Her performance provided a reminder of the qualities that have made her one of England’s most dangerous attacking players.
Arsenal Gain Momentum in European Competition
Russo’s achievement comes shortly after she was recognised as the highest-ranked English player at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, finishing ninth in the voting.
Although she now holds the record for the most Women’s Champions League goals by an English player, she remains some distance behind the competition’s all-time leading scorer, Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg, who has scored 69 goals.
The victory could also prove important for Slegers, who had faced increasing pressure after Arsenal endured a five-match winless run in the Women’s Super League.
Arsenal ended that difficult sequence with a victory over Tottenham in the north London derby before following it up with their success against Benfica. Back-to-back wins should help restore confidence as the team looks to improve its domestic form and progress in Europe.
The result lifted Arsenal to second place in the Women’s Champions League standings, strengthening their prospects of reaching the knockout stage. Benfica, meanwhile, fell to 11th.
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Alessia Russo Named Player of the Match
Russo was the standout performer at Meadow Park, earning an average match rating of 9.58 following her three-goal display.
Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord also impressed with a rating of 8.13, followed by G. Stanway on 8.09 and K. Cooney-Cross on 8.08.
For Benfica, goalkeeper L. Pauels received an average rating of 5.26.
Russo’s record-breaking hat-trick was the defining moment of the contest, combining individual achievement with a vital result for Arsenal. If she maintains this scoring form, she could become an even more influential figure in the club’s pursuit of domestic and European success.