HE MAY NOT be as well-known as fellow teammates Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai, but if it were not for Li Weifeng, the Chinese national team would probably not be debuting at this year's World Cup.
It was all team work, of course, but the 24-year-old central defender did score four goals during the qualifying campaign, including a dramatic last-minute header in one of the crucial qualifiers against Qatar last year.
His outstanding performance has already drawn the attention of a number of European football clubs, including English Premier League team Southampton.
But despite his star-like status on the mainland, the 'big head' which accompanies fame seems to have eluded the player. (Incidentally, Li is affectionately known by his hordes of fans, and the media, as 'Big Head' not because of his ego, but his powerful header.)
In an exclusive interview with Young Post, he said playing outside China had always been his major ambition.
'[Playing abroad] has always been on my mind and I'm confident,' Li said. 'After the World Cup finals, if I get the opportunity to play outside China, I'll go.'
