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 became the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the Euro 2025 final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve league goals for the club 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 European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, 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 Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the best teams 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 whole day was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, 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've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it that often.

"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. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would say the same thing 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 Women's Super League 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 constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball 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 highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.