Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

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

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, 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 tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing 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 defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. 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 was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, 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 watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (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.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

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

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet 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.