Cora Zicai

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. She has previously played for SC Freiburg.

Club career SC Freiburg Zicai began playing football at Sportfreunde Eintracht Freiburg before moving to SC Freiburg in 2017. 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. This made her Freiburg's youngest Bundesliga goalscorer. She continued progressing during the 2021–22 season, making her first league start against Hoffenheim and playing a total of 12 games. Zicai was also awarded the bronze edition of the Fritz Walter Medal in November 2022 to honour her 2021 performances.

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. 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. Zicai then became a regular starter in 2023–24, took part in all 22 league matches, and scored thrice as Freiburg finished ninth.

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. 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. Additionally, Zicai initiated the first goal versus Bayern, before scoring the second one herself in a 2–2 draw. She then scored a long-range goal versus Bayern in the DFB-Pokal, a match Freiburg lost 1–2. In recognition of her performances, Zicai was named Freiburg's sportswoman of 2024. 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.

VfL Wolfsburg Ahead of the 2025–26 season, Zicai moved to VfL Wolfsburg on a free transfer, signing a contract until 2028.

International career Youth Zicai represented Germany at the youth level at the 2022 and 2024 U-20 World Cups. 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. 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.

Senior Zicai was called up to the senior national team by national coach Christian Wück in November 2024. She scored her first international goal on her debut in the 6–0 friendly win against Switzerland on 29 November 2024, her 20th birthday. She then scored her next goal as a substitute in a 2025 Nations League win over Scotland. Subsequently, Zicai was included in the Germany squad for the 2025 Euros in Switzerland.

Personal life Zicai's mother comes from Bulgaria and previously participated in pentathlon competition. 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.

Career statistics International

Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zicai goal.

Honours Individual Fritz Walter Medal Bronze (Female U17): 2021