Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

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

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

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

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"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 so calm, like we were confident 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.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. 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 OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL 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 constant threat 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.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

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

She can turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.