Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

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

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"Numerous elements 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 Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. 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 team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing 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 defensively, we were highly concentrated 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 securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure 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 still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition 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 beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, many of which she ends up scoring herself.