In the just concluded second stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, a name has captured the attention of Chinese football fans: Behram Abduweli.

The 21-year-old striker from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China, boasts remarkable physical fitness and impressive speed. In his national team debut against Thailand at home last Thursday, Behram came off the bench in the second half and volleyed in the crucial equalizer, becoming the first player from Xinjiang to score for the national team.

In Tuesday's away match against South Korea, Behram started and tirelessly ran up and down the field, vigorously challenging the defenders. His effort won widespread recognition from Chinese fans.

Thousands of kilometers away from Seoul, in a modest home in Yining, Xinjiang, his elder brother, Kamiran Abduweli, and their grandfather Mijit Abdurahman were cheering for Behram in front of the TV.

The walls of their home are adorned with Behram's medals, and a cabinet is filled with his trophies. They even cleared out a storage room to keep Behram's football shoes and jerseys.

"I've never missed a single game he played," Kamiran said.

Kamiran, now a driving school instructor, once had the same dream as his brother. They lost their parents early, leaving their grandfather to care for them. To make ends meet, the brothers sold corn in the alley after school.

Their happiest moments were when they could finish selling their goods early and play football, sometimes playing with just a plastic bottle until dusk.

"Once we started playing football, all our worries vanished," Behram recalled.

The hardships of life did not diminish their passion for football. Their talent soon became evident, and in elementary school, a PE teacher told them that playing football well could change their lives.

"We trained relentlessly. One of our biggest motivations was the hope that football would lead us to a better life," Behram said.

In 2015, Kamiran was discovered by a football club in Nanjing, while Behram was also scheduled to take part in a national youth football competition in the distant Shandong. Unable to afford travel expenses for both, Kamiran made a difficult decision to relinquish his opportunity for his brother.

"Our family's condition was tough, and our grandfather worked very hard. As the elder brother, I had to take responsibility, so I decided that Behram should go," Kamiran said.

At the age of 13, Behram left home with only 2,000 yuan, approximately 270 U.S. dollars. In October 2021, he was elected into Shandong Taishan FC, firmly stepping into his lifelong dream.

"When he joined Shandong, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy." said Kamiran, "He used to wear my old football shoes. When I stopped playing, I bought him the best shoes I could afford."

Through phone calls and messages, Kamiran closely followed his brother's progress, advising him that with changing life circumstances, football should be a heartfelt pursuit rather than just a means of livelihood.

"I realized that only by being more disciplined and dedicated could I go further with the football I love," said Behram.

Humble and disciplined, Behram began to excel. In 2023, he played a crucial role in helping the national youth team reach the AFC U-20 Asian Cup quarterfinals for the first time in nine years. In March this year, his grandfather and Kamiran flew to Shanghai to witness him receive the 2023 China Golden Boy Award (U21).

Last year, Behram used his savings to buy a new house in Yining for his family.

"I never got to play professional football, but I hope my brother can fulfill our shared dream and go further," said Kamiran. 

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