Retired Chinese footballer gains fame as influencer
A retired Chinese women’s footballer is making a name for herself online through distinctive videos, and more recently World Cup-themed content.
With more than one million followers on mainland social media platform Douyin, Li Yuhang, known online as “Women Football MadeLi”, is emerging as one of China’s most prominent football influencers.
Ahead of this summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, Li has been posting videos wearing different national team jerseys and collaborating with fellow creators to engage fans, which has caused quite a stir online.
Some of her dancing clips have sparked debate about whether the provocative videos prioritise entertainment over sport, but her audience continues to grow, with many praising her for promoting football in a more accessible way. She was filmed wearing Brazil, Germany, Spain and Argentina jerseys.
Li began posting on Douyin in 2020, utilising the skills from her professional background into content, including technical tutorials, stylised training clips and football-themed short videos.
Her most popular series, “Violent Aesthetics”, has more than 34 million views across 22 videos, featuring shooting drills that showcase the strength and technique of female footballers.
