Cora Nevena Zicai (born 29 November 2004) is a German footballer who plays as a forward for Frauen-Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Germany national team.[2][3][4]
Zicai began playing football at Sportfreunde Eintracht Freiburg before moving to SC Freiburg in 2017.[5] Aged 16, she made her Bundesliga debut in March 2021, playing against Bayern Munich in a 1–5 loss. Zicai scored her maiden Bundesliga goal a week after, striking a precise finish from the edge of the box to extend Freiburg's lead in a 2–1 victory versus Duisburg.[6] This made her Freiburg's youngest Bundesliga goalscorer.[7] She continued progressing during the 2021–22 season, making her first league start against Hoffenheim and playing a total of 12 games.[8] Zicai was also awarded the bronze edition of the Fritz Walter Medal in November 2022 to honour her 2021 performances.[9]
Zicai had a productive first half of 2022–23, scoring in wins against SGS Essen and Turbine Potsdam, as well as notching up three assists.[10] The second half of her season was affected by groin problems, though she managed to assist the winning goal in the DFB-Pokal semi-final versus RB Leipzig.[11] Zicai then became a regular starter in 2023–24, took part in all 22 league matches, and scored thrice as Freiburg finished ninth.[12]
She became Freiburg's most impactful offensive player in 2024–25, scoring eight goals and assisting four to help the team towards a fifth place finish.[13] This included a strong start to her campaign, as Zicai scored off the bench in a 2–0 win over Köln, notched two goals against Potsdam (3–0), and helped Freiburg towards a 4–1 win against Leipzig with a goal and an assist.[14][15][16] Additionally, Zicai initiated the first goal versus Bayern, before scoring the second one herself in a 2–2 draw.[17] She then scored a long-range goal versus Bayern in the DFB-Pokal, a match Freiburg lost 1–2.[18] In recognition of her performances, Zicai was named Freiburg's sportswoman of 2024.[19] Zicai continued contributing in the season's second half. Among these contributions were two assists versus Jena, her 1–0 winner in Potsdam, and a spectacular long-distance strike against Frankfurt which Freiburg surprisingly beat 3–2.[20][21][22]
Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Zicai moved to VfL Wolfsburg on a free transfer, signing a contract until 2028.[23]
Zicai represented Germany at the youth level at the 2022 and 2024 U-20 World Cups.[24] The team exited in the group stage during the former, but reached the quarter finals in the latter, with Zicai contributing three goals and assists each.[25] She scored five goals for the U-19 team, but missed out on the 2022 U-19 Euros and had to withdraw from the 2023 U-19 Euros on short notice.[26]
Zicai was called up to the senior national team by national coach Christian Wück in November 2024.[27] She scored her first international goal on her debut in the 6–0 friendly win against Switzerland on 29 November 2024, her 20th birthday.[28] She then scored her next goal as a substitute in a 2025 Nations League win over Scotland.[29] Subsequently, Zicai was included in the Germany squad for the 2025 Euros in Switzerland.[30][31]
Zicai's mother comes from Bulgaria and previously participated in pentathlon competition.[32] During her successful 2024-25 season, Freiburg teammates Alina Axtmann and Tessa Blumenberg nicknamed Zicai "Tooora Zicai", in reference to the German word for Goal, Tor.[33]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 2024 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 4 | 2 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 November 2024 | Zurich, Switzerland |  Switzerland |
5–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 4 April 2025 | Dundee, Scotland |  Scotland |
3–0 | 4–0 | 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League |
Individual
 | ||
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