Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy 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 the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the Euro 2025 final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the FWA's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted twelve 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 Professional Footballers' Association 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 having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. 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 arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us 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 throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the 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. I think that you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish 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 doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

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 draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches 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 positioned facing towards the goal.

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

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she finishes personally.