Cristina Neagu

Cristina Georgiana Neagu (; born 26 August 1988) is a Romanian former professional handballer.

Often considered the best player in the world and rated by many in the sport as the greatest of all time, Neagu is the only female handball player in history to win four IHF World Player of the Year awards (in 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2018). She also won the EHF Player of the Year award in 2017 and 2018 (a record). She has been selected to the All-EHF Champions League All-Star Team seven times (2015–18 and 2020–22).

A prolific goalscorer, Neagu is the European Championship's all-time leader in goals scored (303). She was the 2015 World Championship top-scorer and was named MVP of the tournament. She also finished as the top scorer of the EHF Champions League in the 2014–15, 2017–18 and 2021–22 seasons.

Neagu was given the award of Cetățean de onoare ("Honorary Citizen") of the city of Bucharest in 2017.

Early life Cristina Neagu is the daughter of Vasilica and Constantin Neagu. She was born in Bucharest, Romania, and grew up in Ghencea district, being the youngest of three siblings. Maria Covaci, local middle school coach, introduced her to handball when she was 12 years old.

Professional career Injury During the 2010–11 season, her right shoulder cartilage was damaged. On 10 October 2012, Neagu returned to play in the Romanian Women's Handball League, 605 days (approximately 1 year and 7 months) after suffering the injury and after she received long-term treatment in the United States.

She got seriously injured again during a training session in January 2013. Neagu was out for six months after undergoing surgery on her left knee after rupturing her cruciate ligaments.

Comeback and later career After nearly two-and-a-half years of injuries, Neagu again reached the final stage of the Champions League, this time in 2014 with Montenegrin side Budućnost.

On 21 December 2014, she was awarded best left back of the 2014 European Championship. She was also among the tournament top goalscorers, ranking second.

After an outstanding 2013–14 season, she got nominated again for the IHF World Player of the Year Award, but this time she lost to Eduarda Amorim being named second best player in the world with 25.8% of the votes.

Neagu won her first Champions League trophy in 2015 after an outstanding season, topping the goalscorers list alongside Andrea Penezić and being voted the best left back of the competition.

She was named MVP player at the 2015 World Championship in Denmark, where she scored 63 goals – being the top goalscorer in the competition.

During Neagu's final professional match in Bucharest on 8 June 2025, Romanian president Nicușor Dan made an appearance, praising her career.

Personal life Neagu is a fan of football and a supporter of local team FCSB. She attends their matches at the Arena Națională stadium.

Achievements

National Romanian National League: Winner: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2023 Silver Medalist: 2007, 2008, 2019, 2022 Romanian Cup: Winner: 2011, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 Finalist: 2007, 2020, 2021 Romanian Supercup: Winner: 2011, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 Finalist: 2007, 2018, 2020, 2021 Montenegrin Championship: Winner: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Montenegrin Cup: Winner: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

International EHF Champions League: Winner: 2015 Finalist: 2010, 2014 Third place: 2009, 2012, 2013, 2018 EHF Cup Winners' Cup: Finalist: 2008 World Championship: Bronze Medalist: 2015 European Championship: Bronze Medalist: 2010 World Youth Championship: Bronze Medalist: 2006 European Youth Championship: Silver Medalist: 2005 European Junior Championship: Bronze Medalist: 2007

Individual IHF 4× IHF World Player of the Year: 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 IHF World Rookie of the Year: 2009 World Championship Most Valuable Player: 2015 World Championship Top Scorer: 2015 World Championship All-Star Team Left Back: 2015 World Youth Championship Most Valuable Player: 2006

EHF 2× EHF Player of the Year: 2017, 2018 European Championship All-Time Top Scorer (303 goals) European Championship Top Scorer: 2010 European Championship Most Assists: 2010 4× European Championship All-Star Team Left Back: 2010, 2014, 2016, 2022 European Youth Championship Most Valuable Player: 2005 European Junior Championship All-Star Team Left Back: 2007 Cup Winners' Cup Top Scorer: 2008 3× Champions League Top Scorer: 2015, 2018, 2022 7× Champions League All-Star Team Left Back: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 EHF Excellence Awards Best left back of the season: 2022/23

National 6× Romanian Player of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Romanian Sportsperson of the Year: 2015 Brașov County Sportsperson of the Year: 2008 Top Scorer of the Liga Națională: 2022 All-Star Left Back of the Liga Națională: 2021 2× Most Valuable Player of the Liga Națională: 2020, 2021 3× Liga Națională Best Romanian Player: 2017, 2018, 2019 Cupa României Final Four Most Valuable Player: 2018 3× Pro Sport Most Valuable Player of the Liga Națională: 2018, 2020 2021 3× Pro Sport All-Star Team Left Back of the Liga Națională: 2018, 6× Handball-Planet All-Star Team Left Back: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 2020 TV 2 Norway World Player of the Year: 2018 TV 2 Norway All-Star Team Left Back: 2018 2010 2× Carpathian Trophy Most Valuable Player: 2017, 2018 2× Carpathian Trophy Top Scorer: 2006, 2015 2× Bucharest Trophy All-Star Team Left Back: 2014, 2015