Cristina Neagu

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 ==References==