Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

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

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

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

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

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard 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'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, 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 remember after the last-eight 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 I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"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."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. 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 couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, 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 believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

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

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements 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 drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.