Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward made history with her club as they emerged as the pioneering 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 the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental 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 work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European 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 completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, 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 was emotionally really hard. 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 you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

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

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew 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 team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"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's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. 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 opposing players marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.