Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was named the FWA's top female player for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard 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 continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates 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. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable 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 press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play 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.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings 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 close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.