[image source](https://www.nairaland.com/4691880/wang-shanshan-scores-9-goals)

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo step aside --

the hottest striker in world football at the

moment is China's "Nine-Goal Diva" Wang

Shanshan. She scored 9 goals in 29 minutes at

the ongoing Asian Games.

Wang earned that nickname from Chinese fans

and media when after coming off the bench in a

16-0 demolition of Tajikistan on Monday at the

Asian Games in Indonesia.

The forward has found the net a total of 11

times, netting in the 7-0 opening victory over

Hong Kong and adding a soaring header as

China's women beat formidable North Korea 2-0

on Wednesday to top their group and make the

quarter-finals in style.

China's free-scoring women, yet to concede a

goal, are being feted back home and 28-year-old

Wang, in particular, is making headlines for her

astonishing prowess in front of goal.

There have been tongue-in-cheek suggestions

that she could be the answer to the goal-scoring

problems of the Chinese men.

Wang's sizzling form is all the more surprising

because prior to the past week she was hardly

prolific, although she did catch eyes by scoring a

backheel volley against South Korea last year --

the kind of exquisite strike that Messi and

Ronaldo would be proud of.

She currently plies her trade in China's little-

noticed domestic women's league.

"For the past three group matches, Wang

Shanshan scored 11 goals and became Chinese

women's football's talisman," China's Tencent

Sports said in an online article.

"In more crucial tournaments, Wang Shanshan

will become the key player in helping the

women's team win gold."

Against the North Koreans, midfielder Wang

Shuang, who recently signed for Paris Saint-

Germain's women's team, opened the scoring in

the eighth minute, finishing off a fluid passing

move.

"China's women really have the chance to win

the gold medal. The team is blessed to have

Wang Shuang and Wang Shanshan in this era,"

said one fan on Weibo, China's equivalent of

Twitter.

China's evening ended on a sour note, however,

after substitute Zhao Rong was sent off at the

end and coach Jia Xiuquan followed her for

complaining to officials.

China's men play Saudi Arabia in the last 16 on

Friday at the Asian Games, although they have

struggled for goals in international football in

recent times.