Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they became the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

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

She scored 12 WSL 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 PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come 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 striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. 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 team, 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 win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion 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 trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

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

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content 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. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more 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 never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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 nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.