Female Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with Arsenal as they emerged as the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the successful retention of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's top female player for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

Russo netted 12 WSL goals for the club and set up for a further two.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the team, we knew that we had what it takes.

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

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, 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 team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because they're so talented. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were highly concentrated 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 securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker scored twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

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 all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

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

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the forward (15).

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

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from defenders marking closely, before locating nearby team-mates oriented forward.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able turn difficult passes into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.