Leonardo Bonucci faced some of the world’s best in his career, but he feared one man more than most.

The Italian defender hung up his boots at Fenerbahce at the end of last season, and now, aged 37, he’s looked back at the toughest opponent he ever came across.

Bonucci feared games against Atalanta’s forwardGETTY

And despite previously facing football icons and serial Ballon d’Or winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it’s ex-Atalanta and current Torino star Duvan Zapata that gave him ‘nightmares’.

He told Sky Sports Italy: “I have played against Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres and many others. 

“But I was genuinely afraid of Duvan Zapata. 

“Before games against Atalanta, I couldn’t sleep at night. 

“Zapata’s power and physicality made him my nightmare.”

Like Bonucci, Zapata has spent a majority of his career playing in Serie A.

The Colombian signed for Napoli in 2013, going on loan to Udinese and Sampdoria during his development.

A permanent move to Sampdoria came next, before a loan and eventual full-time switch to Atalanta.

He made 191 appearances for Atalanta, scoring 82 goals and bagging 43 assists between 2018 and 2024.

During this time, Bonucci was starring for Juventus, AC Milan and then Juventus again, before his switch to Union Berlin 2023.

Messi and Ronaldo had nothing on ZapataGetty

The pair shared feisty battles on the pitchGETTY

And checking Zapata’s goal record against Juve and Milan, it’s clear to see why he struck fear in one of Italy’s best ever defenders.

Zapata has scored eight goals against Juventus in his career and another eight against Milan.

The deadly goalscorer netted a powerful goal for Atalanta in a 2-2 draw with Juve in 2020, dancing past Bonucci and the rest of the Old Lady’s back line on his way.

Now 33, Zapata signed for Torino on loan in 2023, before joining permanently this summer.

Bonucci, meanwhile, made a whopping 502 appearances for Juventus, as well as 51 games for AC Milan.

The Italian won an incredible nine Serie A titles, as well as five Italian cups.

He also starred for Italy, earning 121 caps for his country and winning Euro 2020 with the Azzurri after defeating England on penalties at Wembley.