She’s just been voted as the best player at the Algarve Cup, further recognition of the great start Barbara Bonansea has made to 2022. In mid-January, the Juventus striker was included in FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 for a second consecutive year, and, a few weeks later, she was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame: “I’m shocked, happy and proud,” said the Italy No.11. “This award is hugely significant, and its meaning goes beyond the football pitch: it shows that, together with my teammates, I’m doing really good things in the world of women’s football.”

Throughout her career, which started on the pitches of Bricherasio and continued at Torino, Brescia and Juventus, she’s always displayed passion and joy in following her dreams, which included becoming a footballer, and now she’s followed in the footsteps of Morace, Panico, Gabbiadini, Vignotto, Bertolini and Gama, becoming part of an elite club. These women have left their mark across the different eras of our sport, so it really is fantastic to join them in this little group,” Bonansea added. “When I was little, I didn’t pay attention to women’s football; I didn’t even know that there were girls who loved playing it. When I started to get into the sport, I was particularly impressed by Melania Gabbiadini, who I was lucky enough to play with for the National Team. She was an idol for me because we played in the same position, but also because she was so good and, at the same time, humble. It was a nice surprise to discover that people like her existed in this world.”

Bonansea has now scored 26 goals in 79 Italy appearances. The unbreakable bond between her and the National Team started in 2006, about a year before her first call-up to the U17s. My first real memory of Italy dates back to the World Cup in Germany. I was 15 and watched matches alongside other people in the local area. Those moments of being together and cheering on the same team made me understand the importance of the National Team, an entity which unites and allows us to share emotions. When they play, I always have a special feeling within. I never imagined that I’d wear this shirt one day too.”

In the next few months, she’ll be involved in many fixtures at both club and international level: “Juve and the women’s National Team have made great strides forward, and now the time has come to try to win something. In order to get your hands on prestigious trophies, you need to put in the hard graft. We need to work even harder because we’re a bit behind other countries. But I think it’d be deserved: we’re a great and strong group, and it’d be wonderful to experience such joy with friends.”

The 2019 Women’s World Cup is when the Azzurre really started to grow. It was a tournament that saw an entire country fall in love with our girls as they scored and smiled, resulting in increased interest in the women’s game. “When we were younger, our idols were male players. Now, youngsters have us to look up to and, inspired by what we’ve done, can dream of playing for top European clubs. I want to be an example for young girls because, when I meet them, I see myself in their eyes, which are full of dreams and aspirations.”

Right now, Bonansea’s time is spent training, playing matches and learning. Together with Laura Giuliani, the striker is studying a Master’s in Sports Marketing because she wants to remain in the same environment even after she’s stopped scoring goals: “In the last few years, there’s been a big change, allowing us to experience first-hand the transition to professionalism. I’d like to be able to continue to make a contribution to the development of our world. The growth of the women’s game is clear for all to see, but we must continue to invest in order to create the conditions that will allow every girl to train as best they can, whatever the level. That is where development begins.”