Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

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

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] 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 determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"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 whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident 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 aimed to achieve.

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

"As players in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. 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 father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was something 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 scoring award.

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

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

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

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.