Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as the pioneering 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 defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match 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 Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements 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 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 tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing 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 what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having 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 a lot of defensive work. But in the end that's what got the job done. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

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

If a defender got in tight, 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 drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues oriented forward.

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

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.