Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering British team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

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 set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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 that's something that I can always control.

"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 Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think 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 the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy 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 don't give it away that often.

"As players 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 led to success. In my opinion you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. 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 defenders marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

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