Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental title.

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

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, 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 continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"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 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. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the best players 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 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 game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously 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 don't give it away frequently.

"As players 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 in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more 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 someone that I always used to love."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one 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 league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

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

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.