Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

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

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"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 tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

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

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (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 marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.