Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

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

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering English team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their continental crown.

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

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for the previous campaign.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted twelve WSL goals for Arsenal and set up for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

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 that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

On winning Euro 2025 with England:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think 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 the necessary qualities.

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

On the Champions League final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that entire occasion was just being very composed, like we were confident 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.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, 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.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated 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."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would agree and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

The striker scored 12 goals in 21 games in the WSL the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the box all season long, 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.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was essential.

Her skill to drop deep, creating space from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got too close, she used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an release option 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.