Dinh Bac and the path to the Vietnam national team
(Baonghean.vn) - Dinh Bac made a strong impression in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup when he scored for the Vietnamese team at the age of 19. However, before that, he was an out-of-favor player at the Song Lam Nghe An training center.
The youngest player in the Vietnam national team made a strong impression
Through the two matches of the Vietnamese team in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, the player who brought a surprise to the media was midfielder Nguyen Dinh Bac.
Dinh Bac was born in 2004 and is currently the youngest player in the Golden Star team. The midfielder from Nghe An left a strong impression in the match between Vietnam and the Philippines in the first match of the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup.
In that match, coach Troussier's team scored an early goal against the Philippines and it was thought that the red strikers would have an easy match. However, the home team with many naturalized players played with determination and created countless difficulties for the yellow star warriors.
With the current situation in the Philippines, many coaches would put their trust in experienced players. However, the French coach went against all predictions by bringing in 19-year-old midfielder Nguyen Dinh Bac. With his youth and desire to prove himself, Dinh Bac silenced the entire Rizal Memorial Stadium. The midfielder from Nghe An made a daring turn from the right wing, brought the ball into the middle of the midfield, then unleashed a powerful shot into the far corner, leaving the Philippine goalkeeper helpless. Dinh Bac's masterpiece drowned out all hopes of the home team scoring points, thereby greatly contributing to Vietnam's victory on away soil.
After the match, Dinh Bac could not hide his emotions when expressing: “This is my first goal for the Vietnam National Team. That makes me very emotional, but this goal is more meaningful because it is like a gift I give to Coach Philippe Troussier, who gave me the opportunity to prove my ability. I will continue to strive for the goals ahead.”
Before that, when he had just turned 19, the player from Hung Nguyen - Nghe An had already made an impression on the coaches of the National team. Dinh Bac became a phenomenon in the National First Division when he scored 8 goals and 7 assists in 12 matches for Quang Nam. Notably, the midfielder born in 2004 scored a double against PVF-CAND, helping coach Van Sy Son's team win an important victory, thereby stepping up to the highest level of Vietnamese football.
It was Dinh Bac's excellent performance that made coach Troussier decide to call him up to the Vietnam U23 team to participate in the 2024 U23 Asian qualifiers in September. Next, Dinh Bac was trusted by coach Hoang Anh Tuan to be named in the Vietnam Olympic team to participate in the 2023 ASIAD. He started all 3 matches for the Vietnam Olympic team. Dinh Bac's great strides helped him be officially called up to the Vietnam National Team by the French coach.
Dinh Bac shared: “I feel very grateful to have the National Team coaches guide me and create conditions for me to express myself. That is the greatest happiness for a player.”
Used to be a disgraced player at Song Lam Nghe An
Nguyen Dinh Bac used to be a player of Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center. With a burning passion, the boy from Hung Nguyen has constantly strived to be able to stay in the place that many boys from all over Nghe An dream of. However, due to his modest physique, Dinh Bac was eliminated by Song Lam Nghe An.
Out of favor at his hometown team, it seemed like Dinh Bac's door to professional football had closed. However, in 2020, thanks to the introduction of former Song Lam Nghe An player - Ho Thanh Thuong, the midfielder born in 2004 was accepted by the Quang Nam Youth Football Training Center.
Mr. Ho Thanh Thuong shared: “Dinh Bac is a talented player, showing special qualities early. However, a player who turns 15 and is only 1m50 tall will face many disadvantages when competing with teammates who are taller. At Song Lam Nghe An, Dinh Bac is not the only talented player. When at a disadvantage in terms of physique, it is quite understandable that stronger and taller players will be chosen.”
Returning to Quang Nam, Dinh Bac was like “a dragon meeting clouds”. He constantly learned, raised his sense of discipline and gradually affirmed his position in the youth football teams in Quang Nam.
“Talent does not wait for age” Dinh Bac continuously creates personal impressions and that is the key for this player to be included in the Vietnam U20, Vietnam U22 and Vietnam U23 teams. At his home team, the midfielder from Nghe An also quickly won the trust of coach Van Sy Son. The Nghe coach gave Dinh Bac the opportunity to play as a main player at the Quang Nam team, when he was just 18 years old.
Coach Van Sy Son shared: "Many people think that Dinh Bac is favored by me because he is a fellow countryman. Perhaps public opinion is wrong. I am stricter with Bac than with other players. I see that he has a lot of potential, so I gave him a chance. I think in the future Dinh Bac will be a talented player of Vietnamese football"./.
