How a rejected youth player became the most prolific goalscorer in Chinese football history
In short: Wu Lei, once turned away from a youth academy for being too small, defied the odds to become a national icon. From record-breaking professional debuts at age 14 to conquering La Liga and rewriting the Chinese Super League history books, his journey reflects an extraordinary rise in modern football.
Born in Nanjing in 1991, Wu Lei’s path to professional football was far from guaranteed. After being rejected by Jiangsu Sainty’s academy due to his stature, he secured a recommendation to the Genbao Football Base in 2003. Xu Genbao, the base's founder, recruited him after observing just one training session. By 2006, Wu made his professional debut for Shanghai East Asia at 14 years and 287 days old, setting a record as the youngest player to appear in a Chinese professional league match.
Wu’s career is defined by relentless scoring. He became the all-time top goalscorer for Shanghai Port with over 200 goals and holds the record for the most goals in Chinese Super League history. His dominance peaked in 2024, when he set a single-season record of 34 goals, helping Shanghai Port successfully defend their league title. His prowess has earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Chinese Footballer of the Year awards and the 2018 Golden Boot.
His impact extended beyond domestic borders during his tenure at La Liga side RCD Espanyol, which he joined in 2019. As one of the few Chinese players to compete in a top European league, his matches drew massive domestic audiences, with over 40 million people watching his debut. He made history as the first Chinese player to score in La Liga and the first to score against Barcelona. Despite his success, he remains a figure of intense scrutiny, particularly following China's 2023 AFC Asian Cup campaign.
Known for his explosive speed and off-the-ball movement, Wu is a versatile forward capable of operating across the frontline. While former mentor Xu Genbao once dubbed him 'China's Maradona,' Wu’s career has been marked by a quiet resilience, transitioning from a shy youth overcoming family hardship to a cornerstone of the Chinese national team, for which he has scored 36 goals.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Wu Lei
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