Barbara Bonansea (born 13 June 1991) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward or midfielder for Serie A club Juventus FC and the Italy women's national team.
After more than a 100 games for A.C.F. Torino, Bonansea moved to ACF Brescia in 2012. Bonansea helped ACF Brescia two league titles and two domestic cups. She also won three Italian women’s super cups in 2014, 2015, and 2016. In 2016, Bonansea was named Serie A female footballer of the year.
In 2017, Bonansea joined Juventus on a free transfer. She made her debut against Atalanta scoring twice in a 3–0 win.[1] Bonansea won the league title in her first year at the club. In the 2018–19 season, she helped Juventus secure the double, winning the league title and domestic cup.
After 15 appearances and 7 goals for Italy at youth level, in September 2012 Bonansea made her Italy senior national team debut in a 0–0 draw against Greece in Athens, in a Euro 2013 qualifier.[2] She was not called up to be part of the Italian squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2013, however.[3]
During Italy's 2015 World Cup qualifying campaign, she made six appearances, scoring seven goals, including a hat-trick in a 15–0 home victory over Macedonia.[4] In November 2015, she was included by manager Antonio Cabrini in Italy's squad for a double friendly against the Chinese national team, appearing in both the match in Guiyang on 3 December, and in the match in Qujing on 6 December.[5]
In November 2016, she was included in Italy's squad for the 2016 International Women's Football Tournament of Manaus, which was held from 7 to 18 December.[6]
Bonansea was called up to the Italy squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2017.[7]
Bonansea was called up to the Italy squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[8]
On 26 June 2022, Bonansea was announced in the Italy squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[9]
On 2 July 2023, Bonansea was called up to the 23-player Italy squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[10]
On 23 February 2024, Bonansea made her 100th appearance for Italy during a 0–0 draw against Republic of Ireland.[11]
On 25 June 2025, Bonansea was called up to the Italy squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.[12]
FIFA described Bonansea as “pacey and snake-hipped” and “able to balletically slalom past opponents on grass like Alberto Tomba did poles,” comparing her to Paulo Futre and Ryan Giggs in their primes.[13] Bonansea is renowned for scoring wonder goals, including the knuckleball free-kicks pioneered by Juninho Pernambucano.[13]
Bonansea is an economics graduate and aspires to play football professionally outside of Italy.[14] Bonansea enjoys reading Dan Brown books, watching romance and thriller films, and learning to play the guitar.[13]
Brescia
Juventus
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