Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

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

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected 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 know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent 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 you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. 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 squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes 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 we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted 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 retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times 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 believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.