September 9: Five Years Ago This Data Would Have Been Hailed as the 'Future Answer'; Now an 18-Year-Old with 5 Goals and 3 Assists Misses the U23 Squad

Chinese football's talent pool seems to have not been this crowded for a long time.

After the U23 Asian Games team's squad was announced, fans were discussing not only who made it, but who surprisingly missed out.

An 18-year-old striker who scored five goals and provided three assists in his last 10 CSL matches failed to make the U23 squad.

Five years ago, even a young striker who could regularly play in the CSL without fear might have been described by media as the national team's answer for the next decade.

Now, there are too many answers and not enough places.

The density of young talent in this group is indeed different.

First, look at a set of statistics.

Eighteen-year-old Bunyamin only made occasional appearances early in the season, spending most time on the bench.

But starting from CSL round 17, he suddenly accelerated.

In the last 10 league matches, he scored five goals and provided three assists, directly contributing to eight goals.

He also delivered an impressive assist in the FA Cup.

Many CSL teams might not have domestic players producing such numbers over a whole season, let alone a player who has just become an adult.

Fast, physical, composed in front of goal, capable in duels and sprints, he represents a rare profile among Chinese players.

Yet the result was that he was left out.

It was not a question of ability, but the U23 Asian Games framework had already been decided. Zhang Yuning and Zhu Chenjie occupied the two overage slots, while eight players from the June national team training camp were directly included, leaving limited space for newcomers.

No matter how impressive Bunyamin's numbers were, he still had to wait.

Viewed differently, this may not be a bad thing.

In the past it was about finding the best among limited options; now it is about choosing the best among excellent players. Missing selection does not mean being inadequate, but that there are many strong players ahead.

Bunyamin is not the only example.

After making a name in the London Cup, 19-year-old Huang Shenghao has secured a regular league starting role and scored his first professional goal. His development path is similar to Bunyamin's: performance first, then opportunities from coaches.

Eighteen-year-olds Wang Gengrui and Zhang Hongfu are no longer only developmental appearances; they are genuine league starters competing weekly against senior players.

Twenty-one-year-olds Li Xinxiang and Du Yuezhen have gradually established themselves in the CSL, building top-flight experience match by match.

In the China League, 20-year-old Wang Haobin and 21-year-old Tang Rui have produced strong assist numbers and are moving toward becoming creative leaders. Shandong Taishan's Maiwulang, 22, has scored and assisted after returning from injury, becoming increasingly secure in his role.

The defense also has emerging talent. Nineteen-year-old defenders Deng Jiefu, Yang Zhanpeng and Yang Mingrui can play multiple positions and are regularly appearing in different leagues, gaining experience faster than players of the same age in the past.

Simply put, this group is not entering starting lineups because of policy; coaches genuinely find it difficult to take them off.

That difference is crucial.

More striking is the movement among even younger players.

Players born in 2007 and 2008, including Sun Chenxi, Shuai Weihao and He Sifan, have already started producing statistics in the China League Two.

They have goals and assists, and are not merely gaining experience; they are competing for places.

Although China League Two is not the top level, its physical demands are not easy for teenagers. Holding a place there shows they have adapted early to adult football.

While many peers are still developing, they are already competing physically with experienced professionals.

As this group continues to advance, even younger generations are following behind.

Chinese football youth development seems to be showing a chain reaction for the first time, with players emerging at every level and some able to move up early.

Chinese football has been praised for producing talent before.

The former Super Platinum Generation and Golden Generation had names that sounded even more impressive.

However, those were often based on short-term breakthroughs in youth tournaments, after which some faded and others failed to reach expectations, leaving only regrets.

This time feels different.

This group's achievements are not from a few tournament performances, but from sustained output across league competition.

Bunyamin's 10-match return of five goals and three assists came in the CSL, not a youth invitational. Huang Shenghao earned his starting place by competing with foreign players and senior internationals, not through U23 protection rules.

The value of this market validation is completely different from training-camp validation.

The league is the true test. Young players who survive an entire season are the ones who can really compete.

That is why this U23 Asian Games team includes eight national team training-camp players and three who were on the national team list in March. The boundary between the senior national team and the Asian Games team is becoming less clear because young players are good enough to receive serious consideration.

However, caution is still necessary.

A surge in talent is real, but what happens afterward is equally important.

At 18, Bunyamin needs continuous playing time rather than a 'future star' label. The progress of Huang Shenghao and others depends on whether clubs continue giving opportunities instead of sending them back to the bench under pressure for results.

Players born in 2007 and 2008 need more protection. Playing in China League Two at 16 or 17 is positive, but overuse could affect long-term development.

Chinese football is good at discovering talent; its bigger challenge is allowing talent to grow normally.

Therefore, Bunyamin missing the U23 Asian Games team may actually be beneficial, allowing him to keep playing league matches rather than waiting on the bench.

Talent reserves ultimately reflect the depth of the foundation.

In the past, China's options were limited; now at least there is a discussion about who deserves selection more.

Names like Bunyamin, Huang Shenghao, Wang Gengrui, Zhang Hongfu and Sun Chenxi may still be unfamiliar today.

But a few years from now, when some of them truly develop, people may look back and say:

I knew then that this group of players was different.

Chinese football has a difficult past, but whether the future is worth expecting depends on these players proving themselves match by match.

At least now, the word 'reserve' has begun to take concrete form.

This is not an empty promise, but real goals and assists from league matches.

Returning to the original question: how can an 18-year-old striker with five goals and three assists in 10 matches miss out on the U23 team?

Is this a waste of talent, or a fortunate problem?

I believe Chinese football has waited a long time for this kind of problem.

The future of Chinese football must be created by these young players through one match after another.