Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the first English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named 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 enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed 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 big games arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. 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 finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.