by sportswriters Xiao Shiyao and Wang Hengzhi
BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Rising Chinese striker Wang Yudong is targeting sharper finishing and more honors for the national team, building on a year of rapid ascent in domestic and international football.
Speaking exclusively to Xinhua, the under-20 forward reflected on his stellar 2025, when he became the top domestic scorer in the Chinese Super League (CSL), made significant strides with the youth and senior national teams, and was named China's U21 Player of the Year.
"I would give myself 80 out of 100," Wang said, admitting that he had not expected such rapid progress while noting that there was still plenty of room for improvement.
During the 2025 CSL season, Wang scored 11 goals to lead all domestic players. On the international stage, he completed a swift rise from the U20 and U23 squads to the senior national team, where he also scored his first goal in a World Cup qualifier.
Earlier this year, he helped China's U23 team reach the final of the AFC U23 Asian Cup, marking the team's best-ever finish.
"To be honest, things have moved faster than I expected. It has been an incredible year, and I'm grateful to the coaches for giving me these opportunities," he said. "Young players need more matches, especially high-quality ones. If you recover well and give your all, it's manageable. It's not as exhausting as some might imagine."
Still, Wang didn't shy away from the setbacks of the past year, including Zhejiang's early exit from the National Games, China's quarterfinal finish at the AFC U20 Asian Cup, and the U23 team's defeat in the continental final.
"At the same time, we gained a lot from the U23 Asian Cup," he said. "For Chinese football, it's very positive because we reached the podium, something we hadn't done for many years. Since we've achieved that, I believe we will have more opportunities in the future if we continue to work harder."
Wang, who is currently training with the senior national team ahead of Friday's FIFA Series opener in Australia, said improving his finishing is his top priority.
"As a striker, I need to be more clinical," he said. "Although I was the top domestic scorer last season, there were still many chances I didn't convert."
Wang's rapid rise has raised expectations among Chinese fans that he could become a leading figure in the country's football revival. The young forward sees such pressure as part of his responsibility.
"I think it's a good thing," he said. "Being compared to top players means recognition. I need to keep improving myself and strive to reach their level."
Meanwhile, Wang remains unfazed by criticism, choosing instead to focus on self-improvement.
"I rarely pay attention to those voices. After matches, I try to switch off from football and focus on what I need to improve," he added.
The new CSL season is already underway, with Wang scoring three goals in the opening three rounds. Looking ahead, he hopes to match or surpass last season's tally at club level while contributing more goals to the national team.
Wang is also expected to represent China's U23 team at this year's Asian Games.
"We reached the podium at the Asian Cup, so I believe we can achieve the same at the Asian Games," he said.
Regarding a potential move to play abroad in one of Europe's top leagues, Wang said the decision would depend on timing and opportunity.
"We will discuss it with the club. If the right opportunity comes, I will go abroad," he said. "It's not a simple decision and requires careful coordination. For now, I'm focused on the matches, and the rest will come naturally." ■
