Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

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

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements 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 gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games 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 was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"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 what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy 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 in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

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

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the scoring award.

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 recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.