A former Beijing Guoan star foreign player leads his team into the World Cup! The ex–Chinese Super League Golden Boot winner shines again, raising high expectations

On April 1 (Beijing time), DR Congo national football team secured a crucial 1–0 victory over Jamaica national football team in the intercontinental playoff, officially qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

This marks a historic achievement, as DR Congo becomes the 47th team to qualify and reaches the World Cup group stage for only the second time in its history.

A key figure behind this success is former Beijing Guoan striker Cédric Bakambu. He is set to lead his team in a highly anticipated group-stage opener against Portugal national football team, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bakambu’s time at Beijing Guoan coincided with the Chinese Super League’s financial peak. While he earned a lucrative salary, it was his on-field performance—combining scoring ability with link-up play—that established him as a key attacking figure.

Despite later criticism regarding his finishing consistency, Bakambu still claimed the league’s Golden Boot in 2020. Since leaving China, he has continued to perform at a high level in European football.

Notably, he once came close to joining FC Barcelona, even willing to give up a high salary, but the move ultimately fell through—remaining one of the biggest “what-ifs” of his career.

Now, by leading his national team back to the World Cup, Bakambu has added another major milestone to his journey.

Meanwhile, his former teammate Zhang Yuning faces a defining moment of his own. The next World Cup qualifiers may represent his final opportunity to reach the tournament. As he approaches his 30s, the stakes are higher than ever.

Bakambu’s success serves as both inspiration and motivation for Zhang, as he looks to write his own chapter on the international stage.