Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

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

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

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

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know 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 tiny differences. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at Arsenal. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, 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 tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember 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 during the event was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"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 overriding feeling 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 the ability, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

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

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play 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 was one of the best ever.

"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."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League last season to share the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the European tournament the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.