Shanghai Port Claims Third Straight CSL Title, Signaling Change in Chinese football

Tens of thousands of fans cheered for the Dalian Yingbo at the Dalian Suoyuwan Stadium on November 22, 2025.photo: IC

An emotional Wu Lei cried at the Suoyuwan Stadium in Dalian on Saturday, as his club Shanghai Port won the Chinese Super League (CSL) title with 66 points after 30 games. The star forward had a tough season due to injury, only playing six games and scoring one goal.

His tears showed how hard shanghai Port fought to win, beating cross-city rival Shanghai Shenhua – who thay were closely competing with – in a crucial 1-0 away win against dalian Yingbo.

But beyond Port’s win – their third league title in a row – this season showed bigger changes in Chinese football: a comeback of fan support, challenges with how the league is run, and a renewed interest from the public.

Port’s success wasn’t easy. Shenhua improved a lot, and Chengdu Rongcheng also became a strong competitor. Beijing Guoan led for half the season but lost momentum as their coach stuck to rigid tactics.

Foreign players still played a big role in scoring. Guoan’s Brazilian striker Fabio won the Golden Boot with 28 goals.

Among Chinese players, Zhejiang FC’s Wang Yudong stood out. His 11 goals put him in eighth place among the top 10 scorers, making him the only Chinese player in that group.

Wang, who turns 19 on Sunday, is expected to play in Europe next season after signing with a European sports management agency in november, which excited Chinese football fans.

The Beijing Guoan faced the Yunnan Yukun in Yuxi, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province on February 22. Photo: IC

Reviving Atmosphere

If the on-field story was engaging, the return of fans to the stands was even more significant. Stadiums were packed, and social media buzzed with excitement. It’s a big change from recent years when fan attendance was low.