Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

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

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

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

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 named in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides 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 overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident 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.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having 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. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

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, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls 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.