Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Young footballers were highlighted at the Chinese Footballer of the Year Award ceremony held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on Monday, as China's U23 team won the organizing committee's special prize, while promising forward Wang Yudong and Shuai Weihao won the Golden Boy awards.

The national U23 team, which finished the U23 Asian Cup as the runners-up, was given the organizers' special award for their achievement, which has injected confidence into domestic football. 

Xu Jiren, vice president of the Chinese Football Association, said that the growth of the young players on the international stage might herald more competitive generations. 

"We are confident that the days of Chinese football winning more matches will keep coming, and Chinese football will only get better and better," Xu said. 

Wang, from Zhejiang FC, won the U21 Golden Boy award for his solid performance at the club and national team levels. 

The 19-year-old athlete was the top domestic scorer in the CSL last season with 11 goals, while also playing a pivotal role in U20, U23 and senior national team throughout 2025.

"The new season is about to begin. I will do my best and maybe I can win the Footballer of the Year Award next time," Wang said. 

Chengdu Rongcheng's 16-year-old Shuai won the U17 Golden Boy award. He is the first player born in 2009 to feature in China's professional league and the youngest goalscorer in China's professional league in nearly 20 years.

At the AFC U 17 Asian Cup qualifiers in November, Shuai scored nine goals in five matches, averaging nearly two goals per game and helping the team win all its games and advance to the finals tournament. 

"I'm thrilled to receive the award. It is a beginning rather than an end for my career," Shuai said. "I am truly grateful to my coaches for their tough requirements and my family and fans' support for me."

At 37, Shanghai Shenhua captain and veteran midfielder Wu Xi was awarded Chinese Footballer of the Year.

"I'm thrilled to lift this trophy again after five years. Last month I turned 37 and I'm entering the final stage of my career. This award might be my last individual award as a player," Wu said at the ceremony.

"This honor is not only a recognition for me, but also a responsibility and motivation. As an experienced veteran, I want to contribute more to the team and set a better example for younger players.

The Shenhua captain, receiving the award from five-time Footballer of the Year winner Wu Lei, made 36 appearances across all competitions for the club, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists to help Shenhua finish their CSL campaign as the runners-up. 

Previously Wu won the 2020 edition after captaining now-defunct Jiangsu FC to win the CSL title. 

Current Chinese men's national team head coach Shao Jiayi was given the Chinese Football Coach of the Year award for leading Chinese Super League club Qingdao West Coast to finish the 2025 season with a club-best in ninth place before taking the reins of the national team. 

"I hope that through the hard work of our team, we can fulfill the hopes that all of us hold for our national team," Shao said. 

"What the fans expect is also what I expect. I hope we can work together to achieve our goals as soon as possible."

Women's star forward Wang Shuang won the Chinese Women's Footballer of the Year award for leading her club Wuhan Jiangda to win the Asian Women's Champions League title as well as helping the provincial Hubei team reach the finals at the National Games.

The Golden Gloves award went to Chengdu Rongcheng keeper Liu Dianzuo, who helped the team concede the lowest goals in the Chinese Super League last season. 

Matthias Brosamer, general manager of Beijing Guoan, which won the Chinese FA Cup on Sunday, said he was impressed by how the award winners paid tribute to their teammates.

"I really like the players, the way they always remembered where they come from and who helped them. So it's not only one player or one person. It's always a team. So that's why this is something we should always remember," he told the Global Times.