Li Ying (footballer, born 1993)
Li Ying (Chinese: 李影; pinyin: Lǐ Yǐng; born 7 January 1993) is a Chinese footballer who plays for Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C in the Chinese Women's Super League. Considered a star of the sport in China,[2][3] she plays as a forward.[4]
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Li Ying | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 7 January 1993 | ||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Dadukou, Chongqing, China, | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C | ||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
2012–2013 | Hangzhou Xizi | ||||||||||||||||
2014 | Suwon FMC | ||||||||||||||||
2015– | Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C | ||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
2012–2013 | China U-20 | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2012– | China | 121 | (48) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 June 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2020 |
On June 22, 2021, she announced on Chinese microblogging platform Sina Weibo her engagement to girlfriend Chen Leilei. This made Li the first Chinese sports player to officially come out as a lesbian.[5] Her Weibo post went viral before it was deleted, with some speculating that Li might have been put under pressure from authorities following the announcement.[6]
After coming-out, she was selected for the Chinese team in the Women’s Asian Cup in India of 2022,[3][7] appearing as a substitute in the first match of the tournament, a 4-0 victory against Chinese Taipei.[8]
International goals
Honours
- China
- Asian Games silver medalist: 2018
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2022
- Individual
- IFFHS AFC Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020[9]
References
- "List of Players – China PR" (PDF). FIFA. 30 May 2015. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- "Li Ying, Steel Roses' unsung heroine". Fifa. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- "China's first openly gay footballer returns for Asia Cup squad". South China Morning Post. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- Kassouf, Jeff (7 June 2019). "Li Ying, China: 2019 Women's World Cup Influencer – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- Kelleher, Patrick (28 June 2021). "Footballer Li Ying bravely comes out and pays heartfelt tribute to girlfriend". PinkNews. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- "Forward Li Ying First Chinese Player to Come Out as Lesbian". Radii China. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- "Chinese women's football team departs for 2022 AFC India Asian Cup - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- "Wang Shuang nets brace as China PR trounce Chinese Taipei". Khel Now. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- "IFFHS WOMAN TEAM - AFC - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020". IFFHS. 30 January 2021.