China's Golden Ball Award 2023 announced: Wu Lei honored four times, Shanghai seaport again
On February 26th, the much-anticipated "China Golden Ball Award" was unveiled, and Shanghai Seaport Football Club striker Wu Lei won the award for the fourth time.
Looking back at the 2018 season, Wu Lei helped his team win the Chinese Super League for the first time and won his first Chinese Golden Ball Award. After three and a half years of "studying" in Spain, Wu Lei returned to Shanghai Harbor and led the team to win the Chinese Super League title again in the 2023 season. With 18 goals in the Chinese Super League, Wu Lei won his fourth China Golden Ball Award.
In the selection process, Wu Lei finished with 62 first-choice votes and a total of 510 points, well ahead of second-ranked Han Chao (231 points) and third-ranked Wei Shihao (187 points).
Facing an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Wu Lei expressed his gratitude to the organizers, judges and fans, who continue to pay attention to and support Chinese soccer even in a poor soccer environment. Wu Lei emphasized that despite the challenges faced by Chinese soccer in recent years, the organizers have always set an example for Chinese soccer.
The more difficult it is, the more persistent we must be," he said. If the team lacks confidence, the decline of Chinese soccer will be inevitable. Although the players are under great pressure, we should show our best form to bring more expectation to the fans."
Wu Lei also admitted: "We must face up to the fact that at this stage our level can no longer be ranked first-class in Asia."
However, in the Super Cup match between Shanghai Seaport and Shanghai Shenhua on the 25th, Wu Lei failed to play at the right level and missed a great one-two chance, and Shanghai Seaport finally lost 0-1 to the opponent.
At the award ceremony on the 26th, facing the honor, Wu Lei said he felt ashamed because the Chinese national team's performance in recent years is not ideal. After the Super Cup loss, he had hesitated to receive the award on the spot.
In addition to Wu Lei, Tian Jinmen Tigers head coach Yu Genwei won the China Golden Marshal Award, China Women's Golden Ball Award went to Zhang Linyan. Guizhou "village super" and Qatar Asian Cup Chinese referee team won the special award of the organizing committee. Among them, by Ma Ning, Fu Ming, Zhou Fei and Zhang Miao composed of Chinese referee team in Qatar men's soccer Asian Cup final law enforcement, this is the first time in the history of Chinese referee team law enforcement final.
List of 2023 Chinese Golden Ball winners
Wu Lei, China Golden Ball Award
China Women's Golden Ball Award: Zhang Linyan
Yu Genwei, China Golden Marshal Award
China U17 Golden Boy Award: Wang Yudong
China U21 Golden Boy Award: Baihelamu Abdouweli
China Futsal Golden Ball Award: Ding Shunjie
Soccer Gaming Club of the Year: Manchester City Gaming Club
Mr. Football Online of the Year (FC ONLINE): Yu Yue
Mr. Football Gaming of the Year (FC Football World): Yang Zichu
Special Award of the Organizing Committee: Qatar Asian Cup China Referee Team
Special Award of the Organizing Committee: Rongjiang (Sanbao Dong Village) and Beautiful Country Football Super League
