Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

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

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first British 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 England to the successful retention of their continental title.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun 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 striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. 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 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 what it takes.

"You're playing against the top sides 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 I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

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

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one 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 league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment 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 locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

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