Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses 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 throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

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

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award 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 having fun and I'm confident 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 striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"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 team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League 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 the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

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

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

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

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.