On May 11, the Chinese Super League officially released the top scorers and assists charts as of Round 11. Shanghai Shenhua, one of the league’s traditional powerhouses, has players featured on both lists. In my view, the top three scorers all meet the criteria for naturalization, raising questions about whether they could be recruited for China’s national team ahead of the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
Yunnan Yukun’s Oscar leads the scoring chart, tied with Shandong Taishan’s Crysan and Chengdu Rongcheng’s Felipe—all with nine goals. However, since Oscar’s nine goals include no penalties, he is ranked first. Some fans suggest Yunnan Yukun should push for Oscar’s naturalization, as he has already fulfilled the five-year residency requirement. His speed and dribbling ability could be a major boost for the national team if developed further.
Chengdu Rongcheng’s Felipe sits second in the scorers’ list. He has scored decisive goals in two consecutive matches, and his 1.93-meter height continues to trouble opposing defenses. Felipe has also been in China for over five years, making him eligible for naturalization.
Shandong Taishan’s Crysan moved up to third after scoring a brace this round, following a hat-trick against Shenhua in the previous match. He now has nine goals in total and has won two Man of the Match awards this season. Over the weekend, he posted a picture on social media wearing a China national team jersey with the number 20, hinting at his interest in playing for the country. Shandong Taishan has previously handled naturalization cases, such as Fernandinho.
Personally, I believe naturalizing Felipe is unlikely due to his age. Crysan and Oscar, however, are more realistic options. If they were joined by another naturalized player like Sainty, the national team’s forward line could be extremely potent.
Ranked fourth in the scorers’ list is Shanghai Shenhua’s La Tang, who has scored eight goals. His output has slowed in May, partly because he lacks the support of a striker like Gai as a shield and has become the focus of opposing defenses.
In the assists chart, Yunnan Yukun’s Jonica remains at the top with nine assists, followed by Silva, Cazá, and Mitritsa. Shanghai Shenhua’s Gao Tianyi is fifth with three assists. In my opinion, Gao has become a key attacking weapon for Shenhua, especially with his set-piece delivery. Unfortunately, he
