Chinese soccer has started the year 2019 in seemingly consistent disappointment, with legendary Italian Marcello Lippi's magic finally fading during the embarrassing performance of the Chinese national team at the AFC Asian Cup in January.

It must be noted that the year 2019 marks the start of a new cycle for China's not-so-heroic soccer saga, as the qualifying matches leading to the all-important 2022, World Cup will start in the latter half of the year. 

If the once-every-four-years World Cup games have set up the de-facto four-year cycles in the Chinese soccer world, the country's national team has consistently disappointed throughout all cycles since 2002, when China made its first and only appearance in the World Cup final stage competition by losing all three group-stage games and without scoring once.

Several days ago, it seemed to me the disappointing cycle would almost be a sure thing to persist. 

Then came Chinese international Wu Lei's personal heroism, something that has changed the mood of millions of Chinese soccer fans, who'd choose to believe even in the slightest glimmer of hope.

On the triumphant night of March 2, 2019, 27-year-old Wu Lei, LaLiga side Espanyol's newly signed striker, scored a goal in a league fixture against Valladolid, sealing the victory for Espanyol. 

For non-Chinese fans, Wu Lei's scoring match is just an ordinary LaLiga game between two struggling teams fighting to avoid relegation. Even Wu Lei's goal doesn't look so special, only a simple striker's trick to beat the offside trap before putting the ball into the back of the net. 

However, for Chinese fans, Wu Lei's personal heroism gives them much needed hope in long and dark hours.

Wu Lei's goal reminds Chinese fans that China can still produce good players. The only problem is that there are just too few of them. The cultivating process has been painfully long and difficult. Nevertheless, young Chinese players now have a role model. If anything, aspirant youths should understand hard work sure counts and will pay off. 

They should never be discouraged by the disastrous experiences over the past few years of several Chinese players joining European clubs as pawns of business interests for some laughable advertising stunts.

It'd be the strong hope of millions of Chinese fans and myself that Wu Lei's personal heroism will inspire so much as to start a new soccer cycle in China. Of course, I'd remain realistic and reasonable, because one man's heroic feat simply won't be enough to reverse the tide just yet. 

However, at least, Wu Lei's LaLiga goal will inject some faith into aspirant young players and show them the right way forward: train hard, be your better selves and claim respect.

Therefore, what I mean for the new soccer cycle doesn't necessarily end in a scenario where China eventually qualifies for the final stage of the Qatar World Cup in 2022. Instead, I hope we can see more inspired youngsters play some nice soccer in China Super League (CSL) games, and some who work really hard may get the opportunity to prove themselves in national jersey or top European leagues. This is what I call real promising change.

Anyway, Chinese soccer may find some long-elusive luck, because FIFA may soon decide on whether to increase the number of participating teams in the final stage of Qatar World Cup from the current 32 to 48. If the answer is yes, China sure has a bigger chance to qualify. Of course, chance always favors the prepared, and China and its players are yet to prove that they are prepared.