Opinion | As electric Elkeson becomes the top scoring foreigner in CSL history, could losing him be the downfall of ‘Big Phil’ Scolari?
Guangzhou Evergrande moved the freescoring Brazilian on to Shanghai SIPG in the close season to make room for Jackson Martinez, but the Colombian has failed to fire so far while Elkeson has thrived

Elkeson’s move to Shanghai raised eyebrows at the time and in the light of the season so far it makes even less sense
He overtook Ramirez – not Ramires – a journeyman Honduran forward who plied his trade in China in the latter half of the naughts.
Ramirez signed for Shanghai Shenhua in 2006 before dropping down a division to play for Guanghzou Pharmaceutical – now known as Guanghzou Evergrande – and firing them into the top flight. He spent another two seasons in Guangzhou before a move to Hangzhou Greentown, where he spent another couple of years.

Elkeson might be the best foreigner but he still has some way to go to top the list for most CSL goals. He’s fourth on the all-time rankings and has third place in his sights: he’s just a single goal behind his former teammate Gao Lin.
Gao may be the closest for Elkeson to overtake but he is also the only one of the top three still playing – and still scoring – in the CSL. Both players have five goals in the league this season.
WATCH: Elkeson’s record-breaking double for Shanghai SIPG
