Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net 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 work off the ball.

The forward was named the FWA's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself 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 number nine position, 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 gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, 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. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion 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 what it takes, 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 possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. 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 agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

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

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.