Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

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

Russo was named the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored twelve WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

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

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun 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 requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight 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.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, 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 main emotion that stands out from that whole day 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 believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo 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 attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.