Portuguese sports media reported that the Portuguese U15 national team is participating in the UEFA Development Cup, which is equivalent to the European Championship for 15-year-old players. The 14-year-old Chinese player Francisco Wang wore the No. 7 jersey of the Portuguese U15 national team and represented them in three consecutive group stage matches.
The Portuguese U15 national team was grouped with Ukraine U15, Turkey U15, and Italy U15.
In the first match, the Portuguese U15 national team defeated Ukraine U15 3-0. Chinese player Francisco Wang started as a winger/attacking midfielder, playing 75 minutes and helping the team win 3-0.
In the second match, the Portuguese U15 national team defeated Turkey U15 3-2. Francisco Wang came on as a substitute in the 55th minute and helped the team win.
In the third match, the Portuguese U15 national team lost 2-3 to Italy U15. Francisco Wang came on as a substitute in the 46th minute.
Chinese player Francisco Wang helped the Portuguese U15 national team win 2 and lose 1 in 3 matches, accumulating 6 points and securing the top spot in the group. The Portuguese U15 national team advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Development Cup (U15 European Championship).
Francisco Wang, whose Chinese name is Wang Lei, was born in 2010 in the small town of Abrantes, Portugal. His parents are from Qingtian, Zhejiang, and are engaged in business in Portugal. Francisco Wang joined the Benfica youth training at the age of 8, going through the Benfica U11, U13, and U15 teams. Currently, he plays for Benfica U15A as a starting winger/attacking midfielder in the top-tier Portuguese U15 league.
Currently, Francisco Wang is an absolute starter and core offensive player for Benfica U15A. This season, he has played 27 times for Benfica U15, scoring 9 goals, which earned him a call-up to the Portuguese U15 national team. In March this year, Benfica officially renewed their contract with the young Chinese player Francisco Wang for another three years.
Benfica claimed: "Renewing the contract with Chinese player Francisco Wang, one of the best players in the world for the 2010 age group."
In July this year, the Portuguese Lopes da Silva Cup (equivalent to the National Games) was held, where players must be under 16 years old. The Benfica U16 team and the Lisbon U16 team formed the Lisbon Football Association team to participate. Chinese player Francisco Wang represented the Lisbon Football Association team all the way to the final.
In the final of the Portuguese Lopes da Silva Cup, the Lisbon Football Association team defeated the Porto Football Association team 1-0 to win the championship. The 14-year-old Chinese player Francisco Wang, representing the Lisbon Football Association team, won the MVP award for the second consecutive time in this event.
Benfica's Argentine star Di Maria once watched Francisco Wang's game and praised him, saying that Francisco Wang has a great chance of becoming a starting-level player in the top five leagues and believes in his promising future.
Portuguese sports media stated: Most of the Portuguese U15 national team are players from the 2009 age group, with only three players from the 2010 age group in the team. However, Francisco Wang is the only player from the 2010 age group who has played in the Portuguese U15 national team. This fully demonstrates his outstanding talent and strength. Portuguese media believe that it is not an exaggeration to call Francisco Wang a Portuguese genius player now, and his future is very promising.
Currently, Francisco Wang and his 10-year-old sister Victoria Wang, who play for the Portuguese Super League Sporting CP women's U11A team, still hold Chinese nationality. However, since they were born in Portugal, they are eligible to represent various levels of the Portuguese national team. That is to say, when they turn 18, they can choose their nationality again, whether it be Portugal or China.
Now, the outstanding Francisco Wang has attracted the attention of the football association. He is also eligible to represent various levels of the Chinese national team in competitions. In the future, Francisco Wang may represent the Chinese U15 national team for the 2009 age group in matches. Perhaps he could even represent the Chinese U16 national team for the 2008 age group in next year's U17 Asian Cup (Asian Youth Championship).
What do you think about the abilities and talents of the 14-year-old Chinese player Francisco Wang, who plays for Benfica U15A in the Portuguese Super League?