Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European 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 my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

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 remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament 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 elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, 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 side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. 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 really focused on our job at hand. 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 content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.