Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League 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 I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

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

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling 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 wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. 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 say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest 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 (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating 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 can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.