Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the first English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, 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 named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

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

"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 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 you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament 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. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being very composed, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times 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 was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, she used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, 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 defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.