Chinese Super League names best 11 on Fifa 22, but only five China players make the cut
- Fans also point out Guangzhou FC’s Elkeson and Ricardo Goulart are both naturalised Brazilians, and argue only three Chinese players actually made the grade
- Foreigners dominate the league’s best team despite many of them leaving China amid Covid-19 pandemic and financial constraints
However, football fans were quick to point out that two of those are naturalised China internationals Elkeson and Ricardo Goulart, arguing that only three Chinese players have made the grade despite a number of high-profile foreigners turning their backs on China amid the Covid-19 pandemic and financial concerns.
Elkeson – known as Ai Kesen in China – and Goulart, who goes by the Chinese name Gou Lat, swapped their Brazilian nationalities for Chinese ones after meeting five-year residence requirements.
The Guangzhou FC pair have played for Li Tie’s China side in the current Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign for the Qatar 2022 tournament, which continues next week.
Their three fellow Chinese internationals are Shanghai Port goalkeeper Yan Junling (73 overall rating) and their Guangzhou teammates Li Xuepeng and Zhang Lingpeng (both 71 overall), who have been named as the full-backs on the Fifa 22 team.