| |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 7 November 2006 | ||
Place of birth | Milan, Italy | ||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Barcelona B | ||
Number | 15 | ||
Youth career | |||
2015–2020 | Pro Sesto | ||
2020–2022 | Inter Milan | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2022–2023 | Inter Milan | 4 | (0) |
2023– | Barcelona B | 24 | (6) |
2023– | Barcelona | 5 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2021–2022 | Italy U16 | 3 | (1) |
2021–2023 | Italy U17 | 16 | (8) |
2022– | Italy U19 | 5 | (2) |
2023– | Italy | 8 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:00, 14 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:32, 8 March 2024 (UTC) |
Giulia Dragoni (born 7 November 2006) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga F club Barcelona and the Italy women's national team.
Club career
Early life and Inter Milan
Born in Milan, Italy,[1] Dragoni started playing football at the age of four,[2] joining grassroots club Franco Scarioni,[3][4] before moving to Cimiano,[2][3][4] and then entering the junior academy of Pro Sesto in 2015.[2][5] Here, she first came to prominence for her performances in mixed-sex junior championships,[1][6] where she played until 2019,[1] earning the nickname "Little Messi".[1][4][7]
Having first joined Inter Milan on trial for a youth tournament in 2018,[8] Dragoni officially entered the club's youth sector in the summer of 2020.[1][4][6] During the 2020–21 campaign, following the halt of several youth leagues due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic,[8] she was promoted to Inter's under-19 squad, aged just 14,[4][8] and contributed to a third-place finish in the national championship.[6][9]
Having been promoted to Inter's first team at the start of the 2022–23 season, under head coach Rita Guarino,[4][10] Dragoni made her professional debut on 20 November 2022, coming in as a substitute for Ghoutia Karchouni in the 74th minute of a goalless league draw against Fiorentina.[4][11] Having just turned 16 years old, she became the youngest player to ever feature in a Serie A match since the league had achieved full-time professional status.[7] She went on to make three more appearances for Inter's senior team before the end of 2022.[4][6][7]
Barcelona
On 31 January 2023, Dragoni officially joined Spanish side Barcelona on a permanent deal, signing a contract until June 2025.[1][4][12] In the process, she became the first non-Spanish member of the women's team setup to reside at La Masia.[1][4][7] Having been registered for the club's reserve team, Barcelona B,[7][12] she scored her first goal for the side on 5 March, in a 3–0 league win over Athletic B.[13] In her first season at the club, she helped Barcelona B win the second-tier title,[7][14] having scored four goals in ten matches;[6][14] she was also included in the first team's title-winning UEFA Women's Champions League squad, despite not featuring in any of their matches.[7][15]
At the start of the 2023–24 season, Dragoni was officially promoted to Barcelona's first team, while still being a part of Barcelona B's roster.[16] She made her first-team debut on 26 November 2023, coming on as a substitute for Mariona Caldentey in the 83rd minute of a 4–0 Liga F win over Athletic Club.[5][17][18] In the process, at 17 years and 19 days, she became the youngest non-Spanish player to make her debut for Barcelona's senior team – either in men's or women's football –,[5][19] overtaking the previous record by Lionel Messi (who was 17 years and three months old at the time of his debut).[5] On 13 December, she made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut, coming on for Esmee Brugts in the 78th minute of a 6–0 win over FC Rosengård in the group stage.[20] On 13 January 2024, she made her first start and scored her first goal for Barcelona's first team, opening the score in a 6–0 Copa de la Reina win over Fundación Albacete.[19][21] At the end of the campaign, Dragoni helped Barcelona retain the Champions League title,[22][23] becoming the first Italian player to win the trophy,[23] as the Blaugrana completed a quadruple by also winning the league title, the Copa de la Reina and the Super Cup.[23][24]
International career
Dragoni has represented Italy at various youth international levels, having played for the under-16, under-17[1][4] and under-19 national teams.[7][25]
In March 2023 she received her first call-up to the Italian senior national team for the friendly match against Colombia.[26] In June of the same year, she was included in the preliminary squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup by head coach Milena Bertolini.[27][28] She subsequently made her debut for the Azzurre on 1 July, coming on as a substitute in the second half of a friendly match against Morocco, which ended in a goalless draw:[29][30] at 16 years and 236 days, she became the youngest person to represent an Italian senior national football team in the 21st century,[7] but did not beat the all-time record, originally established by Carolina Morace in 1978.[7][15]
The following day, she was officially included in the final 23-women squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, aged just 16;[7][31][32] in the process, she became the second youngest player to get called up for the tournament, behind only Casey Phair.[33][34] On 24 July 2023, Dragoni started in a 1–0 group stage win over Argentina:[35][36] at 16 years and 259 days,[35] she became the youngest player to ever represent the Azzurre in the competition's history,[37][38] a record that previously belonged to Rita Guarino,[37][39] while also overtaking Giuseppe Bergomi as Italy's youngest player to take part in any World Cup match, including both men's and women's football.[6][39] She also became the second-youngest European player to feature in a FIFA Women's World Cup game.[38]
Style of play
Dragoni mainly operates as a midfielder in the mezzala role;[6] she is best known for her dribbling skills,[6][8] as well as her ball control, her passing and her tactical intelligence.[6]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Continental[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Inter Milan | 2022–23 | Serie A | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 0 | ||
Barcelona B | 2022–23 | Primera Federación | 10 | 4 | – | – | – | 10 | 4 | |||
2023–24 | Primera Federación | 14 | 2 | – | – | – | 14 | 2 | ||||
Total | 24 | 6 | – | – | – | 24 | 6 | |||||
Barcelona | 2023–24 | Liga F | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
Career total | 33 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 7 |
- ^ Appearances in Copa de la Reina
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Women's Champions League
International
- As of match played 27 February 2024
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Italy | 2023 | 6 | 0 |
2024 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 8 | 0 |
Honours
- Barcelona
- Liga F: 2023–24[22][24]
- Copa de la Reina: 2023–24[22][24]
- Supercopa de España: 2023–24[22][24]
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2023–24[22][24]
- Individual
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Giulia Dragoni, la piccola Messi va a Barcellona: prima calciatrice straniera alla Cantera". Il Giorno. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ a b c Lignelli, Matteo (29 June 2023). "Giulia Dragoni: "La nuova vita tra Barça e Nazionale. Grazie a un segreto di papà"". Cronache di spogliatoio. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ a b Cannatà, Fabio (17 May 2017). "Guarda guarda in campo c'è, una nuova giocatrice: Giulia Dragoni!" (in Italian). Sprint e Sport. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Griñán, Marta (31 January 2023). "Giulia Dragoni, la primera perla internacional de La Masia". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Maioli, Mariarosa (29 November 2023). "Giulia Dragoni, a soli 17 anni abbatte il record che fu di Messi e fa sognare il calcio azzurro". Il Giorno (in Italian). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Perché l'esordio di Giulia Dragoni è importante". L'Ultimo Uomo (in Italian). 25 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Burhan, Asif (3 July 2023). "Giulia Dragoni Set To Play At Women's World Cup Aged 16". Forbes. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Ferrio, Edoardo (24 April 2021). "Quattordici anni e non sentirli, ecco a voi Giulia Dragoni". La Giovane Italia News (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "L'Inter batte la Florentia ai calci di rigore e chiude al terzo posto il Campionato Primavera". FIGC (in Italian). 29 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Ricci, Filippo Maria (2 February 2022). "Dal Cimiano al Barça, il sogno della ragazza che dribblava i maschi". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Iannucci, Federica (20 November 2022). "Termina con un pareggio senza reti la sfida tra la Fiorentina femminile e l'Inter Women". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Giulia Dragoni arriba a La Masia". FC Barcelona (in Catalan). 31 January 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Ricchiuti, Rita (6 March 2023). "Primo gol per Giulia Dragoni con il Barcellona". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ a b Griñán, Marta (3 July 2023). "Del Barça B al sueño del Mundial". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Giulia Dragoni ai Mondiali: da Forbes alla BBC, all'estero tutti ne parlano". L Football (in Italian). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Gascón, Javier (7 September 2023). "El '7' de Salma, el '22' de Ona y el '24 de Brugts, novedades en los dorsales". Mundo Deportivo (in European Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Gil, Aimara G. (26 November 2023). "Otro recital de Hansen". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Pozzoli, Martina (26 November 2023). "Giulia Dragoni debutta nella prima squadra del Barcellona". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ a b Pozzoli, Martina (13 January 2024). "Primo gol per Giulia Dragoni con il Barcellona". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ "Barca thrash Rosengard to continue perfect start". BBC Sport. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ Gil, Aimara G. (13 January 2024). "Set en blanco del Barcelona en Albacete". Diario AS (in European Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Morse, Ben (25 May 2024). "Barcelona retains Women's Champions League title, completing historic quadruple". CNN. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Pozzoli, Martina (25 May 2024). "Giulia Dragoni è la prima italiana a vincere la Champions League". L Football. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Gil, Aimara G. (26 May 2024). "El inédito póquer en España". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Italia, la partenza è quella giusta: a Vercelli superata la Grecia per 4–0. Mazzantini: "Gara interpretata al meglio"". FIGC (in Italian). 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Verso il Mondiale: trenta convocate per l'amichevole con la Colombia, prima chiamata per Beccari, Dragoni, Pavan e Schatzer". FIGC (in Italian). 29 March 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Da lunedì a Brunico 32 Azzurre si giocano il posto per il Mondiale. Il 1° luglio test con il Marocco in diretta su Rai 2". FIGC (in Italian). 23 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Iannucci, Federica (23 June 2023). "Nazionale femminile, le 32 convocate per la seconda parte del raduno pre Mondiale". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Regge il muro del Marocco: l'ultimo test prima della partenza per la Nuova Zelanda finisce 0–0. Bertolini: "Meglio nel secondo tempo"". FIGC (in Italian). 1 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Scognamiglio, Pietro (1 July 2023). "Italia, col Marocco tante giovani e l'esordio di Dragoni". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Italy name 16-year-old Dragoni in World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Verso il Mondiale, ufficializzata la lista delle 25 Azzurre in partenza per la Nuova Zelanda". FIGC (in Italian). 2 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Pozzoli, Martina (14 July 2023). "Da Giulia Dragoni a Casey Phair: le giovanissime calciatrici al Mondiale". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Nava, Matteo (21 July 2023). "I test sbriciolati, la Masia, il Mondiale a 16 anni: la scalata di Giulia Dragoni". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Girelli decisive as Italy beat Argentina". BBC Sport. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Scognamiglio, Pietro (24 July 2023). "Mondiale donne, è subito grande Italia! L'eterna Girelli affonda l'Argentina". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b Pozzoli, Martina (24 July 2023). "Giulia Dragoni è la più giovane italiana di sempre a debuttare in un mondiale". L Football (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b Morse, Ben (24 July 2023). "Italy wins 1-0 against Argentina as 16-year-old 'Little Messi' Giulia Dragoni makes debut at Women's World Cup". CNN. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ a b Ferri, Alessandro (24 July 2023). "Giulia Dragoni "polverizza" Beppe Bergomi: è l'azzurra più giovane di sempre ai Mondiali". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ Giulia Dragoni at Soccerway
- ^ Dragoni at BDFutbol
- ^ "IFFHS WOMEN'S YOUTH (U20) UEFA TEAM 2023". IFFHS. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
External links
- Giulia Dragoni at Soccerway
- Giulia Dragoni at WorldFootball.net