Six of the best for Chinese Super League on World Soccer 500 but Wu Lei is the only local to make the cut
Domestic players down from three to one since last year and there’s not a single representative from powerhouses Guangzhou Evergrande
World Soccer magazine has announced the World Soccer 500 for 2018 and the Chinese Super League has six players on the list of the globe’s most important players.
But the only Chinese player to feature is Shanghai SIPG’s Wu Lei, who retains his place from the 2017 version of the annual list.
Veteran national team star Zheng Zhi, 38, and his Guangzhou Evergrande and China teammate Feng Xiaoting made the list last time out but both have lost their places.
Shanghai SIPG provide two of the six CSL players, with Brazilian striker Hulk joining Wu, although there is no place for their teammate and Asia’s record transfer, Oscar.
The side currently lead the league on goal difference from Shandong Luneng, having won their opening three games of the season. Wu is top scorer in the league with seven goals in three games, including a four-goal haul against Guangzhou R&F last weekend.
Watch: Wu Lei runs riot