Wang Yudong speaks at the Chinese Footballer of the Year Awards ceremony in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, on March 2, 2026. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Few people had predicted that a young Chinese player could finish atop the domestic top scorer list in the Chinese Super League (CSL), but Wang Yudong of Zhejiang FC surprised many last season. 

At just 19 years old, the Zhejiang FC forward has won the Chinese U21 Golden Boy award, three years after he won the U17 version.

"2025 was a very fulfilling year for me," Wang told the Global Times in an exclusive interview after winning the award on Monday. "I've played a lot of matches, received support from many people, and achieved the results I wanted."

Representing Zhejiang FC in 28 CSL matches, Wang netted 11 goals and provided five assists, claiming the title of the league's top domestic scorer. 

His goals, all from open play, shattered the dominance of foreign strikers and signaled a revival for domestic talent on the CSL scoring list, which is often dominated by foreign imports. 

Despite the accolades, Wang remains remarkably humble. When asked to score his 2025 season out of 100, Wang was candid that there is room for improvement. 

"Probably 80 out of 100, because there are still many awards that I think we could have got, but I didn't get them," Wang said. 

Top scorer

On top of his domestic achievements, Wang has also made an impact on the international stage. 

At the beginning of 2025, he was among the attacking trio that sent the Chinese U20 squad into the U20 Asian Cup quarterfinals. 

His impressive performance with the U20 side even earned him a berth on the senior national team when playing at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 

Wang made his debut on the senior national team in March 2025, becoming the first player born after 2005 to make it onto the team. 

Adding on that youth achievement, Wang notably scored a late penalty in the 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over Bahrain on June 10, 2025, making him China's youngest-ever scorer in such a match at 18 years and 199 days. 

His youth international record for the Chinese U23 team is equally impressive, where he helped secure a runner-up finish at the U-23 Asian Cup in early 2026, marking the team's best-ever performance.

Wang's emergence coincides with a positive trend in Chinese football as more youth players breaking into the CSL. 

"It's a very good phenomenon," Wang told the Global Times. "Getting exposed to the professional league platform earlier, especially at the CSL level, is very helpful for our growth when we're young." 

China's Wang Yudong (right) battles for the ball against Japan's Yudai Shimamoto during the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup final match in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on January 24, 2026. Photo: VCG

Growing calls

After the U-23 Asian Cup, the praise for Wang often mingled with calls for more. But Wang is not paying much attention to the online credit. Rather he is focusing on improving his capabilities.

"I'm not someone who often focuses on these things," Wang said. "I just want to do my best and play every game well. In this season, I hope to maintain the height of last season, with even higher goal efficiency."

Yang Chen, a Chinese football legend who has had stints with German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, warned Wang to maintain clarity amid rising expectations by tuning out external noise.

"At this stage, Yudong needs to have a clear understanding of his position and ability. I think that's the most important thing," Yang, also a former national U17 team head coach who coached Wang, told reporters. 

"I'm very pleased to see how much he has improved over these past two years. As his former coach, I'm genuinely delighted with his achievements. I hope Yudong will keep a steady mindset and keep working hard toward the goals he has set for himself."

Wang's rise on the international stage has won fans beyond Zhejiang, as the buzz around a potential overseas move has been incessant. 

Overseas prospects

Fans and media have linked him to studying abroad, a euphemism for playing overseas. Multiple reports have suggested that Wang is attracting scouts from European clubs, including reported interest from the German Bundesliga.

However, Wang remains pragmatic. 

"Actually, the new season is about to start this year. I'm more focused on preparing for this season, preparing for the present," Wang said.

When pressed on long-term plans for playing overseas, he replied, "Let it happen naturally, take it slow" before emphasizing that he needs to solidify his place in the CSL first.

"As a forward, I definitely hope to score more goals," Wang said. "Hopefully I can score in the double digits, surpassing last season."

Wang's growth has already won applause from domestic opponents. Football fans across China, including those of rival teams like Beijing Guoan and Shandong Taishan, cheered him during Zhejiang's away games.

Wang also humbly acknowledges areas for growth, particularly his on-field finishing.

"There are still many things I need to improve. Last year, if I had seized more chances, I wouldn't have only made those goals," Wang told the Global Times candidly. 

For 2026, Wang said his primary goal is to break into the senior national team more consistently. 

"First of all, I definitely hope to enter the national team," he said. "Being able to play for the national team is definitely the dream of every football player in China." 

Looking further ahead, Wang's vision for Chinese football is bold yet succinct. "Definitely it's qualifying for the 2030 World Cup," he said.

As a player who has been on club and different national teams, the workload for the 19-year-old is demanding. However, he does not see fatigue as a problem.

"If you put in the effort, there will always be rewards. I don't think about fatigue; every day I just do what I need to do to improve myself," Wang said.