Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

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

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

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

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

Russo netted twelve league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the 2025 Ballon d'Or and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

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

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

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. 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 I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

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

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew 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 they're so talented. When in possession, they retain it that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content 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 dad. Seeing her for England, 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 those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements 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 drawn more fouls than the forward (fifteen).

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

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

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

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