Female Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward made history with her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

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

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes 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 the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.