Naturalized striker makes strong impression

(NLDO) - Naturalized Brazilian striker Do Hoang Hen has scored 3 goals and 1 assist in just 4 matches in V-League 2025-2026

Do Hoang Hen (left)

In mid-October 2025, Do Hoang Hen successfully completed his journey to acquire Vietnamese citizenship. The player from Barcelona (Spain) officially played for Hanoi FC from round 7, as a domestic player.

The immediate impact of Do Hoang Hen is not only limited to the attacking efficiency but also a comprehensive change in the tactical strategy of the capital team. The fact that Hanoi FC increased the average score from 1.33 to 2.25 and the scoring efficiency doubled (from 1.17 to 2.25 goals/match) in the last 4 rounds of V-League has shown the importance of Hoang Hen in the squad.

Hoang Hen's finishing is diverse and accurate.

Over the last 4 rounds, Hanoi FC scored a total of 9 goals and Hoang Hen contributed to 44% of the team's goals. He is shouldering a huge workload, a common task of foreign players or naturalized star players in the V-League.

Not only has the attack improved, the rate of conceding goals of Hanoi FC has also decreased to 0.75% since Hendrio joined the squad. This shows that the ball control ability of coach Harry Kewell's team has gradually improved, reducing the pressure on the defense system.

Do Hoang Hen is considered by experts to be the perfect piece in the Vietnamese national team. Moreover, wearing the Vietnamese national team jersey is also the goal that this naturalized player has longed to accomplish since coming to the S-shaped country to develop his career. The impressive performance of the 31-year-old midfielder is opening the door to the Vietnamese national team.

Hoang Hen has a wide open door to join the Vietnam national team in the near future.

According to FIFA standards, the end of 2025 is the deadline for Hoang Hen to officially play for the Vietnam national team. However, if coach Kim Sang-sik gives him the opportunity and calls him up at FIFA Days in November 2025, the player of Hanoi FC will have more motivation, get acquainted with the training and living atmosphere of the Vietnam national team as well as test tactics according to the football philosophy of the Korean strategist.

FIFA Days in November 2025 is also the time when the Vietnamese team will compete with the Lao team (November 18) in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

Even if their names are on the training list, the two naturalized players Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen still cannot play for the Vietnam national team for many reasons.

But in the rematch against Malaysia in the final round of Group F taking place at home at the end of March 2026, the combination of this duo will help the Vietnamese team increase their chances of winning and getting a ticket to the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chan-sut-nhap-tich-tao-an-tuong-manh-196251105151738688.htm