Michela Giordano

Michela was born in Cuneo, in Italy's Piedmont region, before joining one of the country's biggest academies at Juventus.

Michela says she first started playing football with a school friend. The two girls often played with boys at their local parish field, and after convincing her father to let her try football instead of skiing, they joined a local club together.

Although her father initially preferred that she continue skiing, he always believed in her talent. He drove her to training, waited after work to pick her up, and supported her throughout the sacrifices that shaped her career.

She progressed through three Italian youth national teams (U17, U19 and U23), highlighting her consistent development from an early age.

Growing up in Piedmont, Michela was a Juventus supporter long before she wore the club's shirt. Joining Juventus Women was the fulfilment of a childhood dream.

Her biggest football idol was Lisa Boattin. Michela also says that training alongside legends such as Barbara Bonansea, Cristiana Girelli, Martina Rosucci and Sara Gama helped her mature both as a footballer and as a person.

Michela dedicated her first Serie A goal to her late mother. The goal came on the anniversary of her parents' wedding, after her father had texted her the night before saying it was a special day. She described scoring that goal as feeling like a sign that her mother was still with her.