Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

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

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the high 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 content 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, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

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

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

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

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

When the ball does stick, 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, moving it clear from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.