Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward made history with her club as they became the first English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, 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 tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view 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 what it takes.

"Facing 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 overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing 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 high press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

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

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

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

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

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

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

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.