Li Ying (footballer, born 1993)

For other people named Li Ying, see Li Ying (disambiguation).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.

Li Ying
李影
Personal information
Full name Li Ying
Date of birth (1993-01-07) 7 January 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Dadukou, Chongqing, China,
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Hangzhou Xizi
2014 Suwon FMC
2015– Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C
International career‡
2012–2013 China U-20 5 (0)
2012– China 121 (48)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  China
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2018 Palembang Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 June 2019
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2020

Li Ying (Chinese: 李影; pinyin: Lǐ Yǐng; born 7 January 1993) is a Chinese footballer who plays for Shandong Sports Lottery W.F.C in the Chinese Women's Super League. Considered a star of the sport in China,[2][3] she plays as a forward.[4]

On June 22, 2021, she announced on Chinese microblogging platform Sina Weibo her engagement to girlfriend Chen Leilei. This made Li the first Chinese sports player to officially come out as a lesbian.[5] Her Weibo post went viral before it was deleted, with some speculating that Li might have been put under pressure from authorities following the announcement.[6]

After coming-out, she was selected for the Chinese team in the Women’s Asian Cup in India of 2022,[3][7] appearing as a substitute in the first match of the tournament, a 4-0 victory against Chinese Taipei.[8]

  1. ^ "List of Players – China PR" (PDF). FIFA. 30 May 2015. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Li Ying, Steel Roses' unsung heroine". Fifa. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b "China's first openly gay footballer returns for Asia Cup squad". South China Morning Post. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  4. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (7 June 2019). "Li Ying, China: 2019 Women's World Cup Influencer – Equalizer Soccer". Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  5. ^ Kelleher, Patrick (28 June 2021). "Footballer Li Ying bravely comes out and pays heartfelt tribute to girlfriend". PinkNews. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Forward Li Ying First Chinese Player to Come Out as Lesbian". Radii China. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Chinese women's football team departs for 2022 AFC India Asian Cup - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Wang Shuang nets brace as China PR trounce Chinese Taipei". Khel Now. Retrieved 4 June 2023.