Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match 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 FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development 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 those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off 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 entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew 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."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy 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 that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

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

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

The striker notched 12 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 league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet 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, many of which she ends up scoring herself.