18-Year-Old Rising Star Bunyamin: 5 Goals and 3 Assists in 10 Matches, Could Earn National Team Call-Up

In the decisive match of the 26th round of the Chinese Super League, Yunnan Yukun defeated promoted side Liaoning Tieren 5-0 with an overwhelming advantage. The victory could also be seen as an emotional response after their previous 0-6 defeat to Zhejiang FC. In this important match, Kleber scored three goals, while Oscar and Bunyamin each contributed one goal and one assist, with the trio forming Yunnan Yukun's strongest attacking combination. The match was particularly significant because after it concluded, the CSL would enter a break period and national team fixtures were about to begin, meaning outstanding players would naturally receive more attention.

After going through a period of poor form, young Bunyamin exploded again in the match against Liaoning Tieren. In the 32nd minute, he forced his way down the flank to create an assist for a teammate, and in the 77th minute he successfully intercepted the ball and fired home a powerful shot. He finished the match with one goal and one assist, helping his team secure a big win. In his last 10 CSL matches, Bunyamin has performed impressively, recording 5 goals and 3 assists, directly contributing to 8 goals in total and showing excellent form.

This is Bunyamin's first CSL campaign. At the beginning, his performances were not particularly eye-catching and his playing opportunities were relatively limited. It was not until July that he began to make an impact. On July 3, he made his first start and scored against Henan FC, subsequently earning the trust of head coach Jordi. The experienced coach, who previously developed Wang Yudong, clearly saw Bunyamin's potential and helped him enter the peak period of his career. Currently, Bunyamin has made 17 appearances for Yunnan Yukun, including 9 starts, contributing 5 goals and 3 assists.

By comparison, Wang Yudong, who also played in the CSL for the first time, did not have performances as outstanding as Bunyamin's at that stage. He made his CSL debut in early 2023, appearing in only 4 matches and recording 0 goals and 1 assist. In the following 2024 season, he made 11 appearances without scoring, and it was not until 2025, after being selected for the national team, that he improved rapidly and eventually became the top domestic scorer, scoring 11 goals and providing 5 assists.

Looking back at Bunyamin's recent excellent performances, he does deserve a place in the national team. If Shao Jiayi is responsible for selection, he should consider bringing Bunyamin into the national team as soon as possible, allowing him to experience the national team environment, gain international match experience and build confidence, just as Wang Yudong's previous experience demonstrated. Given Bunyamin's talent and potential, his national team selection appears to be only a matter of time. If the goal is development, why not give him an opportunity earlier? In several September friendly matches, he could be arranged to start, allowing him to develop himself and helping the national team make better use of this potential player.

Do you think Bunyamin will earn a place on the national team roster in September?