10 Chinese Super League players to represent 7 countries at World Cup (2)

Paulinho

Guangzhou Evergrande from 2015 to 2017, Brazil

Paulinho may not be playing in the Chinese Super League anymore, but he is a successful product of the CSL and still has a loyal following of fans in China.

Paulinho arrived at Evergrande in June 2015, after an unhappy spell at the Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur. He was an indispensible part in the midfield, and helped the team come away with three Chinese Super League titles during his tenure. He was also considered the missing piece of the puzzle in the Evergrande squad when they were crowned Asian champions in 2015.

Paulinho moved to Barcelona on a 40 million Euro deal in August 2017.

He will be spearheading Brazil's efforts as captain of their five-star team at the World Cup.

　　Javier Mascherano [Photo: Xinhua]

Javier Mascherano

Hebei China Fortune, Argentina

Javier Mascherano is one of the most experienced and decorated players in the Chinese Super League. The 2014 World Cup runner-up called an end to his seven-year spell at Barcelona and joined Hebei China Fortune in January 2018.

Mascherano said in an interview that he was happy in China, and believed that no matter which team he plays for, he needed to work hard to convince Argentina's national coach Jorge Sampaoli that he is World Cup material.