Wu Lei (center) receives his Chinese Footballer of the Year award on Thursday in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province from Branko Ivankovic (right), current head coach of Chinese national football team and Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic (left), who led China to their only FIFA World Cup appearance in 2002. Photo: VCG

 
Chinese star striker Wu Lei has urged young footballers to take greater responsibility when representing China to compete in international competitions.

"The national team requires the efforts of every single person. It's a responsibility that every player on the team has to shoulder," Wu told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday after being named Chinese Footballer of the Year for the fifth time.

"Once a player joins the national team, they should all be prepared to take the pitch." 

Wu's call for young players to take responsibility stems from his personal journey. As a key player for both his club and the national team, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to perform under pressure.

Wu scored 34 goals in 30 Chinese Super League (CSL) matches, playing a decisive role in Shanghai Port's league title victory. None of his goals came from penalties.
His ability to deliver atcrucial moments has made him an invaluable asset to the Chinese national team, as his decisive goals in the World Cup Asian second-round qualifiers in 2024 have helped China to keep their qualifying hopes alive when chances were once slim.

Wu scored four goals in nine Chinese national team appearances in 2024, before a right-knee injury sidelined him from playing since October. 

Since Wu's absence from the national team, some have pinned their hopes on Xie Wenneng, a 24-year-old winger from CSL club Shandong Taishan who finished second in the Chinese Footballer of the Year rankings.

Despite facing doubts throughout his career, Wu has always relied on actions rather than words to prove his worth.

"I have been facing a lot of such doubts and pressures since I was very young, and I have grown accustomed to it. Most of the time, I prefer to digest these emotions on my own," Wu told the Global Times.

"I think the most important thing is to show my abilities through my performance rather than just talking about it. I believe that it's more important to prove myself with actions."

The Chinese national team will go on their World Cup qualifying campaign by taking on Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on March 20 before hosting Australia on March 25 in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, two matches Wu is likely to miss due to injury.

 'Challenging task'

Wu revealed that it is his club's attacking philosophy that led to the comfortable 2024 season for him. 

"The team's playing style highly advocates offense. Being able to score goals in every game or create opportunities makes me feel that I've regained the joy I had when I was playing football in my childhood," Wu told the Global Times. 

His resilience and dedication serve as a model for young players, inspiring young players who regard him as a mentor. 

China is currently hosting the AFC U20 Asian Cup in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, 15 years after Zibo in East China's Shandong Province hosted the 2010 edition.

Wu was once among the Chinese squad that played in the 2010 U20 Asian Cup, where he scored two goals in the group stage to help China qualify for the quarterfinals.
"Apart from the results, the most important thing is that they need to gain the joy that playing football brings them," Wu said of current national under-20 team playing in Shenzhen.

"Of course, the results are extremely important, but I believe that when they are on the field, they must be in a state where they are really happy to play football and enjoy the game." 

Before returning to Shanghai Port in 2022, Wu had previously been with RCD Espanyol in Spain, where he collected the Chinese Footballer of the Year award for 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons.

The former Espanyol forward is a vocal advocate for improving the quality and pace of Chinese football, as he believes that raising the tempo of the CSL is crucial for international competitiveness. 

"When you were playing in foreign countries, especially in the top-tier European league clubs, all training sessions require 100 percent or even 120 percent of the players' efforts. In contrast, training intensity in China is often lower, with players occasionally easing off during sessions," Wu told the Global Times. 

"As a Chinese player, when we go there [playing in European top-tier league clubs], we might need to exert 120 percent or even 130 percent of our energy and concentration to keep up with their pace. I think it's really a challenging task." 

He also highlights the role of high-quality foreign players in elevating the league's standards and inspiring local talent.

"Raising the league tempo requires everyone to study and work hard," Wu told the Global Times. 

"It's also very important to have high-level foreign players. In the previous few years, there were high-level foreign players in the team that we could learn a great deal by training together with them every day. It's necessary for a team to have such a better pursuit." 

Wu Lei celebrates after scoring as China beat Singapore 4-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers second stage in March, 2024. Photo: VCG

 

Staying healthy the priority

Reflecting on his recovery, Wu emphasized the importance of patience and a positive mindset. 

"As you get older, recovery takes longer. Patience and a positive mindset are essential in rehabilitation," he told the Global Times. 

Speaking of whether he feels his injury might jeopardize his position in the national team, Wu said he takes health as the priority.

"I didn't think too much about it because, ultimately, while we are football players, we are also human beings," he said. "Your physical health is the most important thing."

Despite the challenges, Wu remains committed to his rehabilitation, and is determined to make a stronger comeback.

At 33, Wu Lei is acutely aware of the finite nature of his playing career. He expresses a deep appreciation for the game and a desire to prolong his time on the pitch. 

While he has yet to outline specific post-retirement plans, Wu is certain that his future will remain intertwined with football, whether through coaching, mentoring, or other roles within the sport.

"I want to keep playing for as long as possible," Wu said. "With age, every moment on the field becomes more precious."