Teenager proves he can bend it like Beckham

A spectacular long-range goal by a teenage soccer player in Zhejiang province has gone viral and propelled him into the national spotlight after drawing a personal response from England legend David Beckham, one of the game's global icons.

"What I had in mind was simply to try a lob; I never expected my idol would actually see it," said 19-yearold Shang Chenyuzhou, a high school student from Taizhou who produced the awesome strike during a recent match in the Zhejiang City Football League's Wuyue Cup competition.

Facing a strong Jinhua side in front of more than 30,000 spectators, Shang, dribbling near midfield, spotted the opposing goalkeeper positioned well off his line. He seized the moment to launch a decisive lob from over 50 meters, sending the ball in a perfect arc into the top corner of the net to seal a 2-1 victory.

The distance, trajectory and accuracy of the goal bore a striking resemblance to Beckham's famous strike in 1996, propelling Shang to instant popularity on social media, with fans affectionately dubbing him Taizhou's Beckham.

After the match, the young player, who came through the local Zhejiang Ostrich Football Club youth system, remained modest, saying he had only wanted to "give it a try".

As the buzz continued to grow, Shang opened an account on Weibo on April 20, posting: "I need to work harder and strive to live up to my idol Beckham." The following afternoon, Beckham replied in the comments section with: "Welcome to Weibo, nice goal!"

Reflecting on the difficulty of the strike, Shang said: "I saw the goalkeeper was a bit off his line and thought I'd try a lob from the center circle" — an effort that turned into what many fans have described as a "world-class wonder goal".

According to local media reports, Shang began his soccer journey in 2018, when he joined Taizhou Xueyuan Road Primary School alongside more than 40 other young players, including Wang Yudong, now the Chinese Super League's top domestic scorer. Shang balanced club training with academic studies, consistently excelling in both.

"His success is half talent and half hard work," said coach Hu Wei.

Known for his exceptional discipline, Shang would carry his kit bag to the pitch after evening study sessions and practice free kicks alone, repeatedly honing his shooting from different positions around the penalty area and steadily building a strong technical foundation.

Hu said Shang was physically slight and lacked match experience when he first joined the team. Under the guidance of professional coaches and through exposure to high-level domestic and international competitions, his physicality and decision-making improved rapidly.

The 50-meter lob, Hu noted, was the perfect combination of sharp observation, sound judgment and precise execution.

In response to Beckham's recognition, Shang expressed his gratitude and extended an invitation to the retired British star to visit Zhejiang and watch the Wuyue Cup competition in person.

Launched this year, the Zhejiang City Football League emphasizes grassroots participation and strong local identity. Of its 627 registered players, 74.6 percent are from Zhejiang and 44.6 percent are students. No active professional players are involved, highlighting the tournament's amateur and community-driven character.

chenye@chinadaily.com.cn