Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award 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:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. 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 grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think 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 always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

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

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

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 extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.