Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or 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:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"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."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League 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, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

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 nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.