Ajax continued their imperious run of form, dispatching NEC Nijmegen with a resounding 4–0 victory.
Yang Yang once again led the charge, scoring a brace and providing an assist. Yaya Touré and Angelos Charisteas each added a goal, sealing a commanding away win for the league leaders.
The spotlight, however, remained firmly on Yang Yang.
With 18 goals in just 11 league appearances, he has already surpassed the scoring pace he set last season. The possibility of him netting over 30 goals for a second consecutive Eredivisie campaign no longer seems ambitious—it feels inevitable.
If he maintains this trajectory, Yang Yang could achieve something few have in Dutch football history: back-to-back seasons with 30+ goals, and over 50 combined goals across two campaigns.
The last player to reach such heights was Mateja Kežman, who scored 35 goals in 2002–03 and followed it up with 31 in 2003–04 while at PSV. Before him, it was Marco van Basten in the mid-1980s—specifically the 1985–86 and 1986–87 seasons—who netted 37 and 31 goals respectively for Ajax, cementing his legend before moving to AC Milan.
Even names like Romário, Ronaldo, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, all of whom tore through Dutch defenses during their time in the Eredivisie, fell short of accomplishing this particular feat.
Of course, Kežman's disappointing transition to the Premier League after his dominant run at PSV raised questions about the Eredivisie's defensive standard and the "gold content" of its Golden Boot award. But Yang Yang's case is different. His playing style—blending explosive pace, clinical finishing, and a growing tactical intelligence—offers far more adaptability for elite-level football abroad.
Scouts across Europe agree.
From the Premier League's traditional "Big Four" to the elite of La Liga and Serie A, nearly every major club is keeping close tabs on him. The consensus is clear: Yang Yang has outgrown the Eredivisie.
What remains unknown is which club will make the decisive move next summer—and whether Ajax will be able to resist the tide of offers that will surely come.
...
With a dominant 4–0 victory over NEC Nijmegen, Ajax extended their unbeaten run in the Eredivisie to 11 matches. The win brought their record to 10 wins, 1 draw, and 0 defeats—solidifying their place at the top of the league table with 31 points. The team has scored an astonishing 45 goals while conceding only 7, a testament to both their attacking prowess and defensive discipline.
Yang Yang once again stole the spotlight, contributing directly to three of the four goals with a brace and an assist. That performance brought his season tally to 18 goals and 10 assists in just 11 league matches. Involvement in 28 of Ajax's 45 goals means he has contributed to over 60% of the team's total attacking output.
Such a scoring rate is almost unheard of in modern Eredivisie history. Last season, Yang Yang finished with 34 goals—already a remarkable figure—but this year, he's on pace to eclipse that mark before the campaign even reaches its midpoint.
If his current form continues, Yang Yang is on course to cross the 30-goal mark again and possibly break through the 35- or even 40-goal barrier. To put that into context, the last player to score more than 30 league goals in back-to-back Eredivisie seasons was Mateja Kežman, who netted 35 in 2002–03 and 31 in 2003–04 for PSV Eindhoven. Before him, Marco van Basten scored 37 and 31 goals in two consecutive seasons for Ajax in the mid-1980s—a feat that helped catapult him to international superstardom.
Legendary names like Romário, Ronaldo Nazário, and Ruud van Nistelrooy all lit up the Eredivisie during their spells in the Netherlands, but none of them managed to reach such consistency over two seasons.
Skeptics often question the "golden boot value" of the Eredivisie due to the league's open playing style and perceived defensive weaknesses. But Yang Yang's influence extends beyond statistics. His versatility, intelligent movement, and technical quality have made him the most scouted player in the country. With Premier League giants, La Liga elites, and Serie A contenders all circling, it's clear that his performances are impossible to ignore.
The countdown has already begun. Next summer, it won't be a question of if he leaves Ajax, but where he goes—and whether his next club can afford to miss out on one of the most electrifying players in world football today.
...
...
After the match against NEC Nijmegen, Ajax entered the two-week international break in November.
For Yang Yang, however, it was a rare period of rest from national duty. The Chinese national team was currently competing in the East Asian Games, but Arie Haan, the national team manager, had opted not to call up any overseas-based players, including Yang Yang. Instead, he fielded a squad composed entirely of domestic league talent, using the regional tournament as a scouting opportunity to evaluate potential reinforcements for future competitions.
Despite the experimental squad, China delivered a strong performance.
They opened the tournament with a resounding 10–0 victory over Macau, followed by a disciplined 2–0 win against Hong Kong. Though they stumbled with a 1–3 defeat to North Korea during the group stage, they bounced back with an impressive 2–1 win over Japan. In the final, a rematch against North Korea, the Chinese team turned the tables with a determined 2–1 victory, clinching the East Asian Games gold medal.
While the tournament itself lacked global significance—it was more of a regional multi-sport event than a major football competition—the results were encouraging. Arie Haan used the games to evaluate emerging talents and deepen the squad's pool, rather than to chase prestige.
After the East Asian Games, China played two international friendlies. They lost 0–2 to Serbia and drew 0–0 with Bulgaria, results that did little to shift the public discourse. However, the focus had already begun to drift elsewhere.
The major headline dominating the football world came from FIFA.
The federation released its updated shortlist of the top five candidates for the FIFA World Player of the Year award. This time, Yang Yang—despite making the top ten in the initial round—was not among the final five.
The finalists were Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o from Barcelona, Frank Lampard of Chelsea, Thierry Henry of Arsenal, and Inter Milan's Adriano.
It was a brutally competitive field. Even established stars like Shevchenko, Gerrard, and Kaka failed to make the final cut.
Adriano's inclusion sparked the most discussion. Though Inter had fallen short in Europe, his blend of physical dominance and technical flair, combined with standout performances in Serie A and for Brazil, elevated him to a global elite status. Many viewed him as the most formidable centre-forward in world football at the time—a potential heir to Ronaldo's legacy in Brazil.
Such was the hierarchy of European football.
Even a few years ago, during Yang Yang's first season with Ajax, the food chain of European football was already apparent.
That summer, AC Milan and Ajax found themselves in the same UEFA Champions League group. To destabilize the Dutch side, Milan leaked rumors to the media that they were keen on signing Ajax's right-back Hatem Trabelsi. It was a classic power move — not an official bid, but just enough speculation to stir unease in the Ajax dressing room.
It wasn't uncommon. In European football, big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp. AC Milan's tactic was a page out of the same book used by Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Barcelona — all clubs that had long since mastered the art of unsettling rivals through public transfer interest.
But fast forward to the present, and even these traditional giants weren't safe. Chelsea was digging at Milan's core, Real Madrid's Galácticos era was in visible decline, and not a single Real Madrid player had made the top ten shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year — a first in years.
By contrast, Barcelona was surging. With both Ronaldinho and Eto'o in the top five of the FIFA shortlist, and Laporta's leadership strengthening the club, Rijkaard's Dream Team II had become the center of world football's attention.
While all this unfolded on the global stage, Yang Yang remained focused.
Even during the break, he maintained his strict training regimen—up early every day, training with teammates or alone, then heading to De Toekomst. Rain, wind, or cold made no difference. His routine remained consistent, his hunger intact.
For Yang Yang, awards were secondary.
What mattered most was the pitch—his form, his touch, his edge.
He knew that if he kept improving, recognition would follow.
And so, quietly but relentlessly, he continued to sharpen his game.
...
...
Every evening, Yang Yang arranged basic training, focusing on some of the most fundamental skills — close ball control, footwork, and balance.
One of the great advantages of the Dream training system was how it accelerated muscle memory development. Every repetition carried more weight, every movement drilled deeper into his instincts. This was the reason Yang Yang had improved so dramatically in technique over the past three years.
After completing his foundational work, he would typically move on to training star skills, followed by more targeted sessions — including one particularly demanding module he called "reactive zone pressure training." In this drill, simulated defenders would close in from unpredictable angles and speeds, forcing him to make decisions on the fly — whether to dribble, turn, accelerate, or pass.
Since Zax upgraded the AI to simulate defenders at a top European level, Yang Yang's challenge had grown immensely. Beating an opponent one-on-one had become significantly more difficult, with space shrinking faster and defenders reading his movements more intelligently.
But there was a reward.
Adapting to this level made Eredivisie matches feel simpler. In real games, defenders couldn't match the aggression and precision of his training opponents. The Dutch league could no longer contain him.
The most thrilling challenge remained the Champions League.
But with Zax hinting at raising the difficulty to "World-Class Defender Tier," Yang Yang knew that meant facing simulations of players like Ashley Cole or Zambrotta on a daily basis — relentless, intelligent, elite. It would be a nightmare… but also a gateway.
For now, he was winning more than he lost.
Compared to the simulation module, the reactive zone drill was slightly less complex tactically but required faster reactions and tighter technique. It wasn't easy — especially with Zax raising the tempo night after night — but it sharpened Yang Yang's instincts like a blade.
And every night, after exhausting sessions, he would drag himself to sleep knowing that the pain meant progress.
Today, however, he lingered a bit longer.
"Zax, some media are saying I have no heading ability," Yang Yang muttered with a sigh, tapping his forehead in mock frustration.
He knew it was just media banter — but it still stung.
"Want to start heading drills again?" Zax's voice was even.
Yang Yang had brought it up several times over the past six months, but Zax always gave the same answer: Not yet.
Not because it wasn't possible, but because the training load was already near capacity. Yang Yang could choose to override, but he trusted Zax's guidance.
"I mean… I think my shooting training is going well?" Yang Yang grinned sheepishly.
Heading was a real weakness. Last season, across all competitions, he'd scored nearly 50 goals — all with his feet. This season, with 18 league goals and 5 more in Europe, that stat hadn't changed.
No headers.
He had tried to sneak in header drills when he could, but time and intensity left little space. In training, he could occasionally score one, but in matches — nothing.
"Wait a bit longer," Zax replied calmly.
"How long is a bit?" Yang Yang asked, hopeful.
"With your current shooting trajectory, once all finishing skills are stable — no more than six months — you'll unlock a heading star skill."
Yang Yang's eyes lit up. "Perfect! I already know the one I want: Bierhoff's Header. One of the most dominant aerial scorers in football history. No doubt about his ability."
He chuckled to himself. "I can't wait to score with my head and watch those journalists scramble. They're gonna choke on their words."
Zax was quiet for a moment.
"Bierhoff's header is powerful… but it might not be the best fit for you."
Yang Yang blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I'll explain when the time comes," Zax said cryptically. "For now, keep refining your shooting. And don't neglect the rest of your star skills."
Yang Yang nodded.
Football was a system. Every skill interconnected — dribbling, shooting, pressing, passing. No skill could stand alone.
But as he turned back toward the virtual pitch, one thought stayed lodged in his mind.
Next time they wrote about him, it wouldn't be "Yang Yang can't score headers."
It would be: "Yang Yang can score from anywhere."