The Beauty Of Alessia Russo, The Best Supersub In The History Of The England National Team, Compared To Lionel Messi

England women's national team player, Alessio Russo. (PHOTO/INSTAGRAM @alessiarusso99)

JAKARTA - The beautiful English women's national team footballer Alessio Russo has now become a supersub or substitute with the best goal ratio in the history of English football.

The 23-year-old also contributed one goal as England crushed Sweden 4-0 in the semifinals of Euro 2022 at Bramall Lane on Wednesday, 27 July.

In that match, Russo came on for Ellen White in the 57th minute when England already led 2-0 over the opposing team. He then scored the Lionessess' third goal just eleven minutes on the pitch.

The goal was netted beautifully using the backheel. The ball slid flat past the groin of Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl before England closed the party's fourth goal through Francesca Kirby.

It was Russo's fourth goal in the competition. He is in the competition to become the top scorer with his compatriots Beth Mead and Alexandra Popp (Germany) who have scored six goals each.

Russo and Mead have the opportunity to get the golden boot if they can add to their goalscoring goal in the final on Sunday. England will be looking to bring home their first trophy at this event after being runners-up in 1984 and 2009.

A slick performance against Sweden made former Arsenal player Ian Wright liken Russo to Lionel Messi.

"'Lessi', not Messi, for what he [Russo] did after coming on. I don't know what he has to do to start the game. The improvisation is fantastic," said Ian as reported by the Daily Star.

Russo is now more than just a flash-in-the-pan character. That goal made him a substitute with the best goals ratio beating names like Michael Owen.

According to AceOdds records, Russo is now the most prolific goalscorer as an England substitute ever. Russo's goals ratio as a substitute is 0.70, beating Owen (0.40) and Harry Kane (0.24).

Russo occupies the first place to score every 39 minutes as a substitute. Edin Dzeko is in second place every 89 minutes while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is every 93 minutes along with Javier Hernandez.

Russo's stardom is not just because he became a supersub in the game. He is descended from a wealthy family from a Sicilian, Italian grandfather, who emigrated to England in the 1950s.

The Russo family is known to be so familiar with football from his father who played for the Met Police. Meanwhile, his brother Giorgio plays in non-league competition with Ramsgate in Kent.

Russo started his career with the Bearsted Girls before joining Charlton Athletic. He then joined Chelsea and then joined Brighton in 2017 and scored three goals in seven games there.

After that, he joined North Carolina Tar Heels in America. There he scored a total of 28 goals and a month after leaving the club he signed a two-year contract with his dream club Manchester United.

Last season with the Red Devils he scored 11 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions. This achievement earned him the team's Player of the Year award.