Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

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

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

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision 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 learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us 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 during the event was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I always used to love."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.