Arsenal and England striker Alessia Russo grew up by collecting football stickers and cards to exchange, just like most other young fans and future budding players.
But at this age, the players that Russo collected and exchanged were all male stars.
Even for someone born in 1999, who had the chance to enjoy a professional career from the first day – unlike many older teammates, visible female stars were not part of his childhood.
Players like Kelly Smith, Alex Scott, Rachel Yankey and Jill Scott were superstars to these rare devoted people who knew women’s football, but it was a very small market and the game had not yet impregnated the wider cultural space where these players also existed in the minds of people beyond the sport itself.
The rapid growth of women’s football in England in recent years, driven by progressive success on the lioness since 2019 and exploding in 2022, has also been accelerated by the increased visibility of the players themselves, in marketing, goods and appearances with the media.
One of the main factors of growth in women’s football is to serve the thirst for fans culture. People don’t just want to watch a 90 -minute match once or twice a week, they want to live and breathe it every day. These are shirts with dedicated printing, other official or unofficial markets, etc. pic.twitter.com/xm84ioyvud
– Jamie Spencer (@ jamiespencer155) January 27, 2025
Panini was an engine of this, first with the success of the official Barclays WSL Stickers albums since last season, and now the launch of the first WSL Adrenalyn XL Trading Cards of the emblematic brand.
“I used to recover Panini cards and stickers and exchange them in the playground when I was younger. It is good that women’s football is involved in this now. I am so grateful to be part of all this,” said Russo to mark the new collection on sale this week.
In the collection of 360 cards, Russo is one of the five Golden Ballers, the most desirable items to find, alongside Grace Clinton from Chelsea to Chelsea and Manchester United.
“To be in the collection as a golden baller, it is not something that I considered. But it’s great, and I’m so grateful,” said Russo.
“I remember exchanging male cards when I was a child, and having WSL cards and female cards, it’s incredible. It’s more visibility for the game and shows that football is a place for everyone.
“”[Panini’’s] The involvement in the female game is great. Commerce cards when you are a child, it is sort of where your love for football comes. And I know that when I was younger, I liked having new books of stickers and collecting them. Having the female collection, our game is now great.
“I hope it can continue to inspire more girls in future generations.”
Alessia Russo addressed Onefootball during the launch event of the trading cards collection of the Super League League by Panini Barclays. The album is now available in British retailers!
