Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

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

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

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"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, many players were extremely sore and injured. 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 squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes 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 we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"As players 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'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 dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

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

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

If a marker got in tight, she used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

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