Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named 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 Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named 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 those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. 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 what it takes.

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

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content 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 few times 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 believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

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

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability 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 secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

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

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.