Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Clubs: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward made history with her club as they emerged as the pioneering British team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

Russo was named the FWA's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored twelve WSL goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

Her name was put forward 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 past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed 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."

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 recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. 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 squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we trusted the strategy and what we wanted to do.

"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 frequently.

"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. 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 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 agree and I didn't have the chance of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I always used to love."

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

She was not just 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 recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

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

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from opposing players marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.