Zhao Songyuan, dubbed “China’s Crouch” due to his 1.92m frame, has firmly established himself as the starting striker for China’s U17 national team.
Since the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, Zhao has scored 15 goals in 9 matches, making him the team’s top scorer.
In recent friendlies against Indonesia and Uzbekistan, Zhao scored in all three starts. Against Indonesia, he opened the scoring in a 3-2 win after finishing a precise pass inside the box. In another match, he showcased both aerial dominance and technical finesse, including a solo run past three defenders before scoring.
During the qualifiers, Zhao recorded:
- A hat-trick against Timor-Leste
- Six goals against Brunei
- Goals against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
He finished the qualifiers with 11 goals in five matches.
A product of Tsinghua High School’s football program, Zhao also helped Beijing’s U16 team win the 2025 National Games title.
At the upcoming AFC U17 Asian Cup, China will face Japan, Indonesia, and Qatar in Group B. The top two teams advance to the quarterfinals and qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup.
Given current form, Zhao could be a decisive figure in China’s campaign.
