Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

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

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

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

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists 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 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 completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off 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. It was highs and lows. 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. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. 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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League 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 aimed to achieve.

"Naturally 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 retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But ultimately 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 got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to share 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, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

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

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

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 result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.