With China's national football team failing to qualify for the World Cup, fans have embraced referee Ma Ning as their representative. The 46-year-old official, nicknamed "Card Master," has become an unlikely viral star, gaining a large following on social media.

• Ma Ning is the only Chinese match referee at the tournament, marking his second World Cup appearance.
• A hashtag related to his trip has garnered over 3.6 million views on Weibo.
• He has appeared in collaborations with brands such as Lenovo, Hisense, and Mengniu.