Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they became the pioneering British team to win 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 European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

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 I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches 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."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

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

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League 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 believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

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

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my dad. 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 anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a constant threat in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

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

Team-mate a teammate regularly played forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment 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 close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.