Elkeson, the Brazilian forward for powerhouse Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, has earned a roster spot with the country’s national team and will suit up for FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the Maldives next month, according to an announcement Sunday from the Asian Football Confederation.

The 30-year-old Elkeson — who, under FIFA rules, is eligible to play for China after having lived in the country for over six years — is the first-ever foreign-born player with no Chinese ancestry to be included on China’s top squad.

Earlier this year, Team China also added its first naturalized citizen, Nico Yennaris, to its ranks in May. The Londoner with mixed Cypriot-Chinese ancestry — who is widely known in the country by his Chinese name, Li Ke — gave up his British nationality to become a Chinese citizen in January. (Image: IC)