Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. 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 I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing 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 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 must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. 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 got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) 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 progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness 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 finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.