Alessia Russo is close to cementing herself among England’s finest to grace the European stage in club football after helping Arsenal to down Benfica on Wednesday.
It was a fantastic night for Alessia Russo and Arsenal at Meadow Park on Wednesday, as the England striker scored her first UEFA Women’s Champions League hat-trick to further cement her reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards.
It was a one-sided game and a comfortable 3-0 win for Arsenal, who registered four wins in the group/league phase of a UWCL campaign for the first time.
Russo’s three goals took her to 20 in total in the competition proper, moving her within one of Fran Kirby (21) as the highest-scoring English player in the history of the Women’s European Cup/Champions League.
It has been reported that Russo reached 23 goals on Wednesday to surpass Kirby, but those include three goals in qualifying (in 2023 and 2024), whereas all 21 of Kirby’s came in the UWCL proper.
However, Kirby reached her total in 47 games, scoring her 21st goal in her 45th UWCL outing; Russo, on the other hand, has played just 26 times in the competition. She will surely go past Kirby soon, and almost certainly in far fewer games.
Alessia Russo xG UWCL
Alessia Russo xG UWCL
This was also Arsenal’s first UWCL hat-trick since Frida Maanum scored three against Zürich in December 2022.
Arsenal’s attacking output was just as striking; they took 31 shots, the club’s second most in a UWCL match behind their 35 against Zürich in that same 9-1 victory in December 2022.
Arsenal v Benfica UWCL stats
Arsenal v Benfica UWCL stats
Renée Slegers’ side have created plenty of chances in several games this season but often struggled to convert them into goals. That wasn’t a problem on Wednesday, though, or at least, not for Russo.
Put simply, when Russo delivers, Arsenal tend to follow.
She had 10 shots against Benfica, the most by an Arsenal player in a European match on record, surpassing her own previous high of eight against Real Madrid in 2025.
She also recorded three goal involvements in a UWCL game for the first time in her career.
Russo shotmap UWCL vs Benfica
Russo shotmap UWCL vs Benfica
The Lionesses striker’s latest achievements further cement her reputation on the European stage. Since making her UWCL debut for Arsenal in October 2024, Russo’s 20 goals has only been bettered by Ewa Pajor (21); from decisive strikes to record-breaking performances, Russo so often steps up when Arsenal need her.
Arsenal’s next two UWCL games are against Barcelona and OL Lyonnes, so if she’s going to break Kirby’s record soon, she’ll have to do so against the very best the game has to offer.
Either way, time is on her side.
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