Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental title.

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

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

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. 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 you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

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

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players 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 determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion 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 what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

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

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

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

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

She uses 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 tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.