Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Years Old: 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 Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the successful retention of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

Russo finished as the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the top scorer award with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

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

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it's so detailed and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. 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. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the last-eight game, a lot of us 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 determination and toughness. And I think that we knew that we had the team, 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 sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be OK securing victories in that manner as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched twelve goals in 21 games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but Russo was also a constant threat in the box all season long, taking more shots (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (9.7) than all her peers.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was essential.

Russo's ability to drop deep, freeing herself from her opposing defender through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her body well to win free-kicks, helping her team secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, Russo 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 attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she finishes personally.