Biography
Who is Wu Lei?
Early life and beginnings
Wu Lei was born in Nanjing, China. He developed an interest in football during his childhood. After being turned away by the youth academy at Jiangsu Sainty due to his small size, he sought other opportunities. With a recommendation from Li Hongbing, he moved to Shanghai in 2003 to apply for the Genbao Football Base. Xu Genbao, the founder of the facility, observed a single training session and chose to recruit him immediately.
In 2005, Wu and his teammates became part of Shanghai East Asia. This team was established through the efforts of Xu Genbao. This move set the foundation for his professional path in the sport.
Club career and records
Wu made his debut for Shanghai East Asia on September 2, 2006, in a match against Yunnan Lijiang Dongba. At 14 years and 287 days old, he became the youngest player to appear in a professional Chinese league match. He helped the club secure the third-tier title and subsequent promotion in 2007. His first goal for the club arrived on August 30, 2008, against Qingdao Hailifeng.
The player experienced significant success in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai Port. He scored a hat-trick on June 2, 2013, against Shanghai Shenxin. By 2018, he became the competition's record goalscorer after netting his 89th league goal against Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. That year, he won the Chinese Super League title and the Golden Boot award with 27 goals. He also received the Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year honor for his contributions.
International football participation
His international career began with the Chinese under-20 national team in 2009. He performed well during the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification matches, scoring nine goals in five games. This success led to his first call-up for the senior China national team in 2010. He made his debut on February 14, 2010, against Hong Kong.
Throughout his career, he has represented China in various tournaments, including the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He has scored important goals for his country in World Cup qualifying matches, such as his injury-time winner against Vietnam in 2021. In June 2026, he achieved his 100th cap for China in a friendly match against Singapore.
Playing style and attributes
Wu is recognized for his explosive speed and effective off-the-ball movement. These traits make him particularly dangerous during counterattacks. He is a versatile forward capable of operating across the frontline. While he has played as a striker and a second striker, he frequently occupies the wing positions. His ability to play on either flank provides tactical flexibility for his teams.
Birthday and age
Wu Lei was born on November 19, 1991, which makes Wu 34 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Wu shares the date with 21 other famous people.
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