Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was named the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

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

She scored twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved 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 that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. 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 entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament 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 best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion 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 team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having 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 out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, 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 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 someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

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

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament 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 environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.