Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

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

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself 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 striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

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

"I recall 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. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. 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 I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

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

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

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

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

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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

If a marker got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.