Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. 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 comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

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

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"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 in the end 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 couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning 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 finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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 stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.