Recently, the official announcement from the Chinese Super League (CSL) revealed that Wang Dali has been awarded the title of Best Goalkeeper for the 2024 season. This news came as a surprise to many fans of Shandong Luneng, as they had anticipated that either Bao Yaxiong or Yan Junling would be more likely candidates for the honor. Bao Yaxiong was the goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded in the 2024 season and led Shanghai Shenhua to a second-place finish in the league. Additionally, considering the encouragement of new talent, it seemed appropriate for Bao Yaxiong to receive the award. Over the past decade, the Best Goalkeeper award has been dominated by Zeng Cheng, Yan Junling, and Wang Dali, with Yan Junling claiming the title consecutively.
Wang Dali's performance for Luneng in the previous season did not provide a compelling case for his selection. In a match against Shanghai Shenhua, he conceded six goals, which left Shandong fans unimpressed. Fans felt that Wang Dali should step aside for the younger goalkeeper, Yu Jinyong, who had an impressive outing when given the chance to start in a CSL match. Yu Jinyong's solid performance against Qingdao West Coast raised expectations among Luneng supporters, who believed he should replace Wang Dali as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Despite the doubts surrounding Wang Dali's selection, the question remains: what were the criteria for choosing him as the Best Goalkeeper? Could it be because he is the starting goalkeeper for the national team? Even if we consider his international matches, Wang Dali's performance does not seem to meet the standard, as he conceded seven goals in a game against Japan.
In conclusion, Wang Dali's selection as the Best Goalkeeper for the 2024 CSL season was unexpected for both fans and the media. However, everyone still extends their congratulations to Wang Dali on this achievement.
