Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they became the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association'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 league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight 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.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. 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 watching her a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

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

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

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

If a defender got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

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

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.