Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League 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, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association'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 Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

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

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I'm confident I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games come around, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion 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 game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

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

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

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

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.