Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Russo

Age: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they became the first English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their continental crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

She was the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come 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 number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent 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."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] 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 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."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out 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 strategy and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. 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 watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer 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 doing that. But watching her was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

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

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

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 few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.