Plenty of players but no grassroots: can China ever grow into a footballing giant?

Michael Owen, the former England striker and 2001 Ballon d'Or winner, participated in an amateur football match in Rongjiang, Guizhou, where he scored twice in a 4-3 loss for the local team, Rongjiang Niubi. The event attracted a large crowd, highlighting the popularity of amateur football leagues in China, such as the Village Super League, despite the lack of a solid grassroots pathway to professional football.

This development underscores the challenges China faces in developing a robust footballing infrastructure, as the enthusiasm for the sport at the amateur level does not translate into a sustainable professional framework, raising questions about the country's potential to become a footballing giant.