Dinh Bac and his path to the Vietnamese national team.
(Baonghean.vn) - Dinh Bac made a strong impression in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers by scoring a goal for the Vietnamese national team at the age of 19. However, before that, he was a player who had fallen out of favor at the Song Lam Nghe An youth academy.
The youngest player on the Vietnamese national team has made a strong impression.
In the two matches played by the Vietnamese national team in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the player who surprised the media was midfielder Nguyen Dinh Bac.
Dinh Bac was born in 2004 and is currently the youngest player on the Golden Star team. The midfielder from Nghe An left a strong impression in the match between Vietnam and the Philippines in the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
In that match, coach Troussier's team scored an early goal against the Philippines, and it seemed the strikers in red would have an easy game. However, the home team, with a squad including many naturalized players, played with great determination and created numerous difficulties for the Golden Star Warriors.
With the Philippines dominating the game, many coaches would have placed their trust in more experienced players. However, the French coach went against all expectations by bringing on 19-year-old midfielder Nguyen Dinh Bac. With his youthful energy and burning desire to prove himself, Dinh Bac silenced the entire Rizal Memorial Stadium crowd. The midfielder from Nghe An province executed a daring turn from the right wing, cutting into the center of the pitch before unleashing a powerful shot into the far corner, leaving the Philippine goalkeeper helpless. Dinh Bac's spectacular goal extinguished any hope of a point for the home team, thus contributing significantly to Vietnam's victory on foreign soil.
After the match, Dinh Bac couldn't hide his emotions, expressing: "This is my first goal for the Vietnamese national team. That makes me incredibly emotional, but this goal is even more meaningful as it's like a gift I'm giving to Coach Philippe Troussier, who gave me the opportunity to prove my abilities. I will continue to strive for my goals ahead."
Earlier, at the young age of 19, the player from Hung Nguyen, Nghe An, had already made a strong impression on the national team's coaches. Dinh Bac became a sensation in the National First Division, scoring 8 goals and providing 7 assists in 12 matches for Quang Nam. Notably, the midfielder, born in 2004, scored a brace against PVF-CAND, helping coach Van Sy Son's team secure a crucial victory and advance to the highest level of Vietnamese football.
It was Dinh Bac's outstanding performance that led coach Troussier to call him up to the Vietnam U23 team for the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September. Following that, coach Hoang Anh Tuan trusted Dinh Bac enough to include him in the Vietnam Olympic team for the 2023 Asian Games. He started all three matches for the Olympic team. Dinh Bac's significant progress led to his official call-up to the Vietnam national team by the French coach.
Dinh Bac shared: "I feel very grateful to have received guidance and opportunities from the national team coaches to showcase my abilities. That is the greatest happiness for a player."
He was once a player who fell out of favor at Song Lam Nghe An.
Nguyen Dinh Bac was once a player at the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center. With a burning passion, the boy from Hung Nguyen constantly strived to make it to a place that many boys from across Nghe An province dreamed of. However, due to his modest physique, Dinh Bac was released by Song Lam Nghe An.
Having fallen out of favor at his hometown club, it seemed as though the door to professional football had closed for Dinh Bac. However, in 2020, thanks to a recommendation from 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 who showed exceptional qualities early on. However, for a player who is only 1.5 meters tall at the age of 15, he will face many disadvantages when competing with teammates who are taller and stronger. 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 the clouds." He constantly learned, upheld a strong sense of discipline, and gradually established himself in the youth teams of Quang Nam.
"Talent knows no age," and Dinh Bac consistently made his mark, which was key to his inclusion in the Vietnam U20, U22, and U23 teams. At his club, the midfielder from Nghe An quickly earned the trust of coach Van Sy Son. The coach from Nghe An gave him a chance to play regularly for Quang Nam, even though Dinh Bac had just turned 18.
Coach Van Sy Son shared: "Many people think that because Dinh Bac is from the same hometown, I'm giving him preferential treatment. The public is probably mistaken. I'm stricter with Bac than with other players. I see great potential in him, which is why I've given him a chance. I think in the future, Dinh Bac will be a talented player for Vietnamese football."
