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 her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

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

Russo netted twelve league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

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.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed 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 important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"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 team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides 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 stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew 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 wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she 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.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she 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 these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.