Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, playing a crucial role 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 last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself 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. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament 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 recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away frequently.

"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 ultimately 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 got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one 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 league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

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

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.