Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first English team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.