China’s one-legged football star scores goals

They say dream big and aim high, Chinese football player He Yiyi is a testimony of it.

The 20-year-old striker, who lost his left leg aged 12, has inspired millions of people after giving stunning performance on the football field on crutches. 

Despite having been declined the opportunity to play games numerous times, the amputated sports lover has risen to super stardom after a video showing him scoring amazing goals emerged.

Nothing is impossible: He Yiyi, a one-legged football player, has earned respect in China

Passionate player: He gave out stunning performance during a game on November 12

Passionate player: He gave out stunning performance during a game on November 12

Since undergoing surgery in 2009, the football-mad man has worn out 27 pairs of crutches playing the game with his friends. 

He stuck to his football dream and continued improving his skills through self training. 

His perseverance has earned him respect in his homeland as well as Europe. 

He has been invited to meet Marcello Lippi, the head coach of the Chinese national team.

In addition, Yiyi managed to meet his idols from the West Ham United after being invited by the English Premier League club to London in February.

Hailing from southern China’s Guangdong Province, Yiyi has always dreamt of being a football star.

He started football training more than 10 years ago at his school in the city of Shanwei.

He had been playing at the school for about two years, and was hand-picked to join the Shenzhen Youth Team at the age of nine.

The young player could never forget the year 2009 when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

After training with his local team for just four years, his dream of becoming a famous striker was shattered.

The 12-year-old was told his left leg would be amputated because of the illness. 

Star striker: The 20-year-old has never given up his dream despite having lost his left leg

Star striker: The 20-year-old has never given up his dream despite having lost his left leg

Childhood dream: Yiyi (in orange) started football training aged nine at his school in Shanwei

Childhood dream: Yiyi (in orange) started football training aged nine at his school in Shanwei

Favourite memory: He said he  dreamt of being a star striker and had a true passion of football

Favourite memory: He said he dreamt of being a star striker and had a true passion of football

He Yiyi, who will turn 21 next month, told MailOnline: ‘I spent one year and four months in the hospital. That was the darkest period of my life.’

After losing his limb, Yiyi was re-assigned to the Guangdong Track and Field team as a para athlete. 

He started training for long jump and became a champion at China’s National Games of Disabled Persons in 2015. 

Yiyi said: ‘In China, there aren’t enough football players like me who could play on crutches, so I couldn’t be trained as a para athlete for football.’ 

But the enthusiastic teenager would let his passion for the game die. 

Training with the track and field team, Yiyi would use the only day when he was free to play football.

‘I trained in Guangzhou, and every Saturday, I spent two hours travelling from my base to my friends’ football field to play games with them,’ he said. ‘Because I truly love playing football.’ 

Yiyi, 20, was invited to visit the the West Ham United in February

The English club prepared a jersey for the dedicated athlete with his name on the back

Journey to the West: Yiyi, 20, was invited to visit the the West Ham United in February. The English club prepared a jersey for the dedicated athlete with his name on the back

Yiyi had a picture taken with Slaven Bilić, the former manager

Yiyi also met his idols Andy Carroll

Meeting idols: Yiyi took pictures with Andy Carroll (right) and Slaven Bilić, the former manager (left) during his tour to the West Ham United earlier this year

One year ago, Yiyi retired from the track and field team and started working for a DNA lab, but he keeps on his sports dream alive. 

Earlier this month, Yiyi pulled off stunning performance at the Shenzhen Cup Football Tournament. 

The man said he tried to apply to play in the tournament, but he was rejected by the organiser out of safety concerns. 

However, Chao Xiang Group, a co-organiser of the tournament, was touched by Yiyi’s determination, so the group arranged a friendship game for him to attend.

Chinese head coach Marcello Lippi and He Yiyi pose with players of the Chinese national team

Chinese head coach Marcello Lippi and He Yiyi pose with players of the Chinese national team

Yiyi meets Lippi during a training session ahead of the 2017 CFA Team China International Football Match on June 6, 2017, in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China

Yiyi meets Lippi during a training session ahead of the 2017 CFA Team China International Football Match on June 6, 2017, in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China

Chen Chaoxing, the General Manager of Xiangyang Group, told a reporter from Pear Video: ‘It is difficult to arrange him to play in official games. Because we have to consider his safety and the other players’ safety.’ 

Mr Chen added: ‘But I was also thinking what we should do. Could we arrange a special friendship game for him?’

Footage of the game, held on November 12, shows Yiyi running extremely quickly on the field with the help of his crutches and scoring two goals – despite playing against able-bodied athletes.

In a post-game interview, Yiyi said he wanted to grasp every opportunity to play football.

‘I can only use crutches for two to three more years. After that, I will have to use a false leg to walk, because I will get older, and I can’t use crutches all the time.

‘So I want to take advantage of my youth and play as many games as possible.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk