China may not have qualified for this year’s or the last World Cup, but the Chinese internet always finds a way to celebrate football—usually through the lens of viral memes and hyper-specific internet culture. The latest crossover taking over Chinese social media? Reimagining the world’s biggest football stars as romantic leads in otome (dating simulation) games.
It all started when fans noticed eerie aesthetic parallels between Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and the glossy, cosmic-themed male love interests of Love and Deepspace (恋与深空), one of China’s most popular gacha romance titles. Haaland—affectionately dubbed “Habao” (Ha Baby) in China and known for his “Nordic cyborg” aura—became the perfect canvas for otome-style edits.
Chinese netizens didn’t stop there. Armed with a knack for gacha-game aesthetics, fans started giving the whole football world the otome treatment. Players like Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi have been redrawn with soft lighting, sparkles, character titles, and user interface elements that make them look like native “SSR-tier” character pulls.
The trend brilliantly highlights a unique culture clash: competitive Western football colliding with the hyper-polished, romantic fantasy of Chinese mobile gaming. It’s an unlikely match, but these “boyfriend edits” prove that when it comes to meme-ifying global icons, Chinese fans are in a league of their own. Your favorite striker has officially entered his character title era—so, who are you pulling for? Check out more of this star-streaked insanity from our Instagram below.
All images via Xiaohongshu.
