Everyone has their football hero in their hearts. For Chinese football fans, Wu Lei undoubtedly occupies this position in a veritable name. As the current leader of the national football team, the 32-year-old striker has undoubtedly become an eternal monument to Chinese football.
Even though he has experienced countless controversies and doubts, and even if he has been criticized for the ups and downs of his state, Wu Lei has still not been defeated. On the contrary, he has proved his worth to these doubters time and time again with his strength and resilience. In the past season, the striker has once again topped the list, becoming the top scorer and goalscorer in the Chinese Super League. Such an achievement not only made him famous in domestic football, but also left a permanent mark on the history of Chinese football.
It is with such strength and historical status that Wu Lei has become an "irreplaceable" existence in Chinese football. Despite the continuous emergence of many stars, contemporary Chinese football still cannot find a player who can really succeed Wu Lei. This not only highlights the striker's outstanding talent, but also shows his unique position in Chinese football.
So, what makes Wu Lei such an irreplaceable existence? And what makes him stand tall after countless doubts? What kind of transformation has this eternal monument of Chinese football undergone? Let's find out.
From obscurity to becoming a leader of the national football team
On November 28, 1992, Wu Lei was born in Qingdao City, Shandong Province. Since he was a child, Wu Lei has been full of love for football. He watched football games with his father and worked hard to hone his skills in his spare time. With his outstanding talent and tenacious will, Wu Lei quickly attracted attention in the local youth training system.
In 2009, at the age of 10, Wu Lei joined the youth academy of Qingdao Huanghai Football Club. There, he received professional training and careful guidance, and gradually developed into a great striker. In Wu Lei's view, this youth training period has undoubtedly laid the foundation for his future growth.
In 2012, 17-year-old Wu Lei officially joined the Shanghai Shenhua first team. This was undoubtedly a major turning point in his career. Although he was only a member of the bench in the first few years, Wu Lei was not discouraged. On the contrary, with his tenacious will and professional training, he gradually grew into the main striker of Shanghai Shenhua.
In 2016, Wu Lei staged his explosive work in the Chinese Super League. That year, he not only helped Shanghai Shenhua reach the top of the Chinese Super League, but also became the league's top scorer with his outstanding offensive performance. This achievement not only made Wu Lei famous in Chinese football, but also attracted the attention of the national football coach.
In 2017, Wu Lei was officially selected for the national team and made his national team debut that year. Since then, he has become an indispensable key player in the offensive line of the national football team. Although he had his ups and downs in the years that followed, Wu Lei was the most reliable striker in the national football team at all times.
In 2021, with the successive addition of naturalized players, more options have appeared on the offensive line of the national football team. But in any case, the current national football team is still inseparable from the core of Wu Lei. He is not only the offensive heart of the team, but also the spiritual leader of the entire team. It is with such leadership and influence that Wu Lei has become an absolutely irreplaceable existence of the national football team.
It can be said that from an unknown young player to now becoming the absolute main force of the national football team, Wu Lei has experienced a long and arduous growth process. But it was in this process that he forged his own unique character and strength, and became a unique existence in Chinese football.
Never be afraid of danger and never back down
For Wu Lei, being able to stand tall in the domestic and foreign arenas does not only depend on his excellent ball skills. More importantly, he has a strong will that will never back down and a tenacious fighting spirit.
I remember that in 2013, Wu Lei, who was only 21 years old at the time, had just joined the first team of Shanghai Shenhua. That season, the team was in danger of relegation, and Wu Lei, as the main player, was naturally under great pressure. But he wasn't let the pressure go. On the contrary, he stepped up at crucial moments and relied on his excellent attacking performance to help the team retain their status in the Super League in the final round.
This kind of courage in the face of danger has also been throughout Wu Lei's career. Whether it is in Shenhua or the national football team, as long as the team or individual encounters difficulties, he can always stand up and resolve the crisis with his own strength and hard work.
In the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese men's football team fell into danger in the match against Syria. At the critical moment, Wu Lei helped the national football team get back a city with his excellent offensive performance, and finally ended the game with a draw. This performance has undoubtedly added a valuable experience to patriotic football.
Another example is a Chinese Super League match in 2020, Wu Lei's Shanghai Port team fell into a bitter battle in the competition with Beijing Guoan. But in the end, he helped his team to a 2-2 comeback with a goal from a header and kick. Such a performance not only made the fans cheer, but also once again proved the irreplaceability of Wu Lei as the leader of the team.
It can be said that it is this never-flinching fighting spirit that has made Wu Lei's brilliant achievements in the arena at home and abroad. Even in the face of great pressure and challenges, he was still able to stand up and defuse the crisis with his own strength. This quality has undoubtedly become an important reason why Wu Lei has become an eternal monument to Chinese football.
At the same time, Wu Lei also has another unique character of a football person - calm and calm. In the face of various controversies and doubts, he is always able to keep a cool head and face them with a fair and rational attitude. This kind of calmness and rationality not only won the trust of the fans, but also made him an indispensable mainstay of the national football team.
It is with this courage and calm character that Wu Lei has been able to stand tall in Chinese football and become a real football hero. Even though his strength may diminish with age in the years to come, these qualities will never fade. It is these qualities that have made him an eternal monument in the history of Chinese football.
There is no substitute for a football leader
As mentioned above, Wu Lei has now become an irreplaceable existence in Chinese football. Even though there are many up-and-comers who have been catching up, they are still out of reach against the striker. This is not only because Wu Lei has excellent ball skills, but also because of his unique football character.
First of all, Wu Lei is undoubtedly an excellent offensive player. Judging by his stats, he has created remarkable achievements, both in the Chinese Super League and in the national team. In the Chinese Super League alone, he has become the player with the most goals in history. And in the national team, he became the scoring champion. Such an achievement makes him unique in Chinese football.
But Wu Lei's value is much more than that. As a striker, he is not only excellent in scoring, but also in other technical aspects. His passing, headers and other movements are all top-notch. This all-round offensive ability undoubtedly makes him an indispensable offensive weapon.
At the same time, Wu Lei also has a kind of leadership and influence that is rare in football. As we mentioned earlier, he always stepped up and inspired the team with his performances when it mattered most. This kind of leadership has undoubtedly achieved his status in the national football team.
It is this kind of offensive ability and leadership that makes Wu Lei an irreplaceable existence of the national football team. Even if there are more new stars on the rise, it will take a long time to completely replace the striker.
In addition, Wu Lei also has a unique character as a player. As we mentioned earlier, his ability to remain calm and rational in the face of doubts and pressure has undoubtedly strengthened his position in the hearts of the fans.
As a banner in Chinese football, Wu Lei must always maintain his due demeanor and image. Even when he was slandered or frustrated, he never lost his grace. This character has not only won the admiration of the fans, but also made him a role model for young players.
It is with these unique qualities that Wu Lei has become an immortal monument in the history of Chinese football. Whether at club or country, he has become an irreplaceable presence. Even if he will retire one day in the future, the footprints and spirit he left behind will forever become a treasure of Chinese football.
Let's look forward to whether there will be such a player in the coming years who can fully inherit the mantle of Wu Lei and become an eternal monument in the history of Chinese football.