Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became 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 the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"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. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from 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. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"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. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew 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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember 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 side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her 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 anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

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

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.