Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

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

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

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

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

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew 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 main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) 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.

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

Her skill to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.