Lin Lefeng started his football career with Liaoning F.C. before being called up to the Chinese national team where he would establish himself within squad by playing a vital part during the Football at the 1978 Asian Games where he aided the team to a third-place finish. A firm regular within the national team for the next several years his greatest achievement came when he aided the team to a runners-up position at the 1984 AFC Asian Cup where China lost to Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the final. His international career, however would end with great disappointment when China lost 2-1 to Hong Kong in a vital qualifier for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, which knocked China out of the qualification. Lin Lefeng would then move to the Shenyang Army football team before he would end his playing career.