There has been a debate over who is the best foreign player in the history of the Chinese Super League. Some believe that Conca, a Brazilian foreign player who plays for Shanghai SIPG, is the best foreign player in the history of the Chinese Super League, as he became the heart of the team after moving to the Chinese Super League in 2013, helping Shanghai SIPG win the Chinese Super League title and the Chinese Football Association Cup, and won the Chinese Super League Golden Boot twice in 2015 and 2019. Others believe that Zahavi, an Israeli foreign player who plays for Guangzhou R&F, is the best foreign player in the history of the Chinese Super League, as he became one of the best goalscorers in the Chinese Super League after moving to the Chinese Super League in 2016, helping Guangzhou R&F to win the runner-up in the Chinese Super League and the Chinese Football Association Cup, and won the Golden Boot of the Chinese Super League and the AFC Champions League in 2020.
More people believe that Paulinho, a foreign aid from Brazil, is the best foreign player in the history of the Chinese Super League. After Paulinho transferred to the Chinese Super League in 2015, he became an important player for Guangzhou Evergrande, helping Guangzhou Evergrande win many honors such as the Chinese Super League championship, the AFC Champions League, the Chinese Football Association Cup, the AFC Champions League and many other honors, and won the AFC Champions League Golden Boot Award in 2019. His outstanding performances have been widely recognised and have made him one of the most successful foreign players in the history of the Chinese Super League.
According to media personality Pan Weili's evaluation, Paulinho has achieved great things in the six years of the Chinese Super League, winning six league trophies, and is the only player in the history of the Chinese Super League to have won five titles. He contributed 67 goals and 21 assists on the offensive end, while also totaling more than 600 steals and interceptions on the defensive end.
Paulinho's success is not just due to his personal prowess. Under his leadership, Guangzhou Evergrande has become the hegemon of the Chinese Super League and has also driven the development of the entire Chinese Super League. His joining has improved the level of Guangzhou Evergrande qualitatively and won many games. Paulinho was also very good in the game. He has great technique, great vision, exceptional speed and agility. He is often able to step up and win for the team when it matters most. This performance and his tenacity have earned him the love and respect of his fans.
As for Conca and Zahavi, they are also very good foreign players. In his eight seasons in the Chinese Super League, Conca helped the team to many titles. His technique, awareness, and leadership are excellent, and he is a legend for the Shenhua team. Zahavi scored the most goals in a single season in the Chinese Super League and became a legend for R&F. But the difference between Paulinho and them is that Paulinho is the only foreign player in the history of the Chinese Super League who has served for six years, and his contributions and achievements in these six years cannot be ignored. He surpassed Conca in both performance and results, with his appearances, goals and trophies above Conca. This has made him one of the greatest foreign players in the history of the Chinese Super League and is recognized by the majority of fans.
When Paulinho joined Evergrande, he was considered a Premier League waiver with a transfer fee of only 15 million euros. However, he proved his worth with his strength, and he successfully broke through in the Golden Yuan era of the Chinese Super League and became the undisputed king of kings. Paulinho is one of the greatest foreign players in the history of the Chinese Super League, and his contributions and achievements have been outstanding. He proved his worth with his performances and made important contributions to the development of Chinese football. His success has also led more foreign players to the Chinese Super League, bringing broader development prospects for Chinese football. Although there are other excellent foreign players, when evaluating the first foreign player in the history of the Chinese Super League, there is no doubt that Paulinho's name will be mentioned.