Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship 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 named the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve league goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember 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.

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

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

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. 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 was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

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

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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

If a marker got too close, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, 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 defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

By keeping possession in tough situations, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.