Hu Media: Despite Being the Best Player on the Field, Ma Leilei Still Faces Boos; He Falls Short of Fans’ Expectations

On October 28, Oriental Sports Daily reported that in the 29th round of the Chinese Super League, Shanghai Shenhua drew 2-2 with Shenzhen Xin Pengcheng. Ma Leilei scored a goal to help his team level the score but still faced boos from the crowd.

The media noted that while the selection committee had their own standards for naming Ma Leilei the best player on the field, he did miss opportunities and only managed a marginal contribution. The full stadium of boos from Shenhua fans when Ma Leilei was named the best player can be understood.

In the match against Shenzhen, there were 8 minutes of stoppage time, and it wasn’t until the 97th minute that Shenhua had a genuine chance. However, Ma Leilei, with a one-on-one opportunity, chose to wait for the ball to bounce before shooting, almost as if he was passing, and it was easily thwarted. Many fans believed that the ball had a strong spin, making it difficult to handle, even though it seemed easy in theory. Some fans also acknowledged that Ma Leilei’s ability to score from a penalty under pressure was commendable.

As the main striker and a key figure in the dual-striker formation, Ma Leilei’s primary responsibility is not just to score penalties. As one fan commented after the match: “Perhaps Bao Yaxiong could have also scored from the penalty, but what we need is a forward, not Bao Yaxiong.” When crucial moments arise, Ma Leilei needs to seize the opportunities. In this regard, he still falls short of fans’ expectations.