Pressure from Dinh Bac

Success at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship brought fame and numerous advertising contracts to Dinh Bac. But conversely, it also put pressure on the player born in 2004.

"I'm sorry, but..."

Nearly a week has passed since the Vietnam U23 team returned home after winning the Bronze Medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Many players have been given time off by their clubs or are training at a moderate intensity. This has allowed the majority of the "Golden Star Young Warriors" to recover their fitness before their return to the V.League 2025/26.

The fans' attention is both a source of joy and pressure for Dinh Bac.

But that wasn't the case for Nguyen Dinh Bac. Since returning to Vietnam on the evening of January 24th, the striker from Nghe An has been busy attending various events and participating in commercials for different brands. This is not surprising, as Bac was the brightest star of the Vietnam U23 team in Saudi Arabia. He scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists for his teammates during the U23 Asian Championship. These impressive statistics also helped him make history as the first Vietnamese player to win the Golden Boot at the U23 Asian Championship.

This milestone brought fame to Dinh Bac. At any fan meet-and-greet event, the player from the Hanoi Police FC attracted a huge number of fans. Images of Dinh Bac needing security assistance, navigating through crowds of supporters and surrounded by cameras, have been a constant occurrence for almost a week. But human strength has its limits. Even a seasoned player like the 22-year-old striker cannot possibly endure attending events, advertising campaigns, giving interviews, or interacting with fans every single day.

The phrase, "I'm sorry, but..." has become Đình Bắc's go-to excuse at this time. Faced with a dizzying number of requests from various sources, the Vietnamese national team player cannot fulfill the wishes of the vast majority. Therefore, he frequently has to politely decline, hoping to gain the understanding of those around him.

The story from the evening of January 28th is a case in point. Due to the overwhelming interest from neighbors, Dinh Bac's family decided to organize over 100 meals to express their gratitude to the fans. That was also the time when Dinh Bac's entire family was frantically busy, from arranging the food to signing autographs, taking photos, and interacting with fans… At one point, exhausted, Bac had to shout into the microphone: "I'm sorry, but I can't take pictures with everyone. Please understand!"

Another similar situation, but involving the media. Dinh Bac had been receiving numerous interview requests for a whole week. Because of this, Bac asked a journalist friend to help organize a meal. “Could you please help me invite the reporters? I want to meet and thank everyone in one go. I’m sorry, but at this time, I can’t meet each person individually to talk and share. I hope everyone understands.”

The difficulty of Dinh Bac

Dinh Bac has matured in his communication with the media and fans. However, his polite apology and refusal also reveal another issue he doesn't want but is forced to face. The downside of fame is that he doesn't get adequate rest. While his teammates have had days off with family, friends, and loved ones to recharge and prepare for the club competition, Dinh Bac hasn't had a single day of rest before returning to the Hanoi Police headquarters.

Dinh Bac became famous after the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

This could significantly impact Dinh Bac's ability to regain his form. Rushing back while not fully fit could cost the striker dearly with injury. It's important to remember that he hasn't fully recovered from his groin injury. Coach Mano Polking may understand his situation, but the pressure of the schedule means he can't keep Dinh Bac on the bench at this stage. Especially since Hanoi Police FC was eliminated in the group stage of the Southeast Asian Club Championship. The pressure to achieve results forces Coach Polking to rely on Dinh Bac – a player who promises to make a breakthrough as quickly as possible.

From another perspective, the immense attention from fans also puts significant pressure on Dinh Bac upon his return to the V.League. Every move he makes on the field or off the field will be a topic of interest for the media and social networks. Obviously, if he doesn't perform as expected, Bac will again face the backlash of some fans. Even more seriously, he could be labeled a "star" with a "star complex," similar to what happened after he scored against Japan at the 2023 Asian Cup.

Football is a cruel game. Success and failure are measured directly by performances on the pitch. Dinh Bac shone brightly during the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. However, at this point, he doesn't have a good enough starting point to make a leap back to club level.

Dinh Bac wants to contribute more to the Hanoi Police.

“When I first joined Hanoi Police FC, I was injured for eight months in my first year,” Dinh Bac shared with the press. “Now, after this Asian tournament, I’m back at the club and will continue to work hard so that the coaching staff will give me the opportunity to play, both in the V.League and the Asian Champions League Two. That’s my way of showing gratitude for the team’s patience in waiting for me.”

Dinh Bac asserted that he is not yet on par with Nguyen Quang Hai, the captain and senior player at Hanoi Police FC. “The comparison between me and Quang Hai is inappropriate. I have always held Quang Hai in great respect. He is an ideal role model for me to learn from, and I have learned a lot from talented players like him while playing for Hanoi Police FC. The same goes for this U23 team; I can't make comparisons between this generation and our seniors. We, and they, all share the common goal of bringing glory to the nation.”

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Tieu-diem-van-hoa/ap-luc-cua-dinh-bac-i795631/