In the world of football, there are always some players who can give a unique style to unpopular jersey numbers, making them seem like their own exclusive marks, carrying unique stories and memories.
Take Manchester City in the Premier League as an example. Balotelli's number 45 is very famous, especially during the Manchester derby when he showed the classic scene of "Why Always Me," which deeply engraved this number 45 in the minds of fans. It seems like this number has its own magic; whenever it is mentioned, that story plays back like a movie in front of you.
Looking at Chelsea's Ballack, his number 13 is also an eternal classic. You know, number 13 in Europe is like a number cursed with "bad luck," not very popular, just like how some people in China feel about number 14, but Ballack made it shine with a different brilliance. There's also Toni Kroos' number 38 and Schweinsteiger's number 31, both leaving their unique marks on the green field.
On the Serie A stage, there are even more such examples. Sha Lavi's number 92, Pirlo's number 21, Kaka's number 22, each number is like a key, opening up wonderful football memories, they are classic among classics, making people reminisce endlessly.
On the Chinese Super League stage, there are also such stories. Wu Xi, the captain of Shanghai Shenhua, is one such example with his number 15. In my impression, not many players choose this number. As a main player from Shenhua's youth training and also the captain, Wu Xi wearing number 15 seems to have given new life to this unpopular number, giving it a different warmth. In the 2024 season, Wu Xi became the team's best player with outstanding performance, making number 15 even more dazzling.
Cao Yunding, who retired on December 31, 2024, is also very individualistic. His number 28 is affectionately called "Cao 28" by fans. He has been with Shenhua for so long, like an old tree with deep roots, and also helped the team win the FA Cup championship in 2017, 2019, and 2023. If time could turn back, maybe he would continue running on the field, but there's no "if" in this world, leaving only those memories lingering in the hearts of fans.
Bao Yaxiong of Shenhua wears number 30. As a new national goalkeeper, if Ma Zhen leaves next season, I wonder if he will still be fond of this number. It's like a suspense, waiting for the future to reveal the answer.
At Beijing Guoan, there are also several players who have made unpopular numbers personal. Foreign aid Fabio Abreu's number 29 is quite special. As a forward and main striker, few people would choose this number in the past. In my impression, I've never seen a Guoan striker choose number 29. Why did he choose this? It's really a mystery. I guess we'll have to wait until he scores more goals and attracts media interest for an interview to find out the answer. After all, he doesn't use Chinese social media, so the story behind this number is hidden even deeper.
There's also Cao Yongjing's number 37, which is confusing, but as one of the few players who can return after being loaned out, his performance this season has been quite impressive, making this number 37 stand out.