Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: The Gunners and England

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

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

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

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

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects 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. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the big games 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 remember after the last-eight 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.

"I think the way that we won during the event was just grit and resilience. And I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling 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 the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you must accept not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that she could have played longer and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements was notable.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side secure the ball in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, Russo is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, many of which she ends up scoring herself.