Dinh Bac needs the AFF Cup to reach star status.

The AFF Cup may be a familiar stage for many key players of the Vietnamese national team, but for Dinh Bac, it is still a new horizon to conquer in order to rise to the ranks of stars.

Dinh Bac needs to shine at the AFF Cup.

Dinh Bac is experiencing the best six months of his career. In December 2025, the striker born in 2004 shone with 3 goals and 2 assists, becoming the leading striker that took the Vietnam U22 team to the top of the SEA Games. In January, Dinh Bac continued his excellent performance with 4 goals, winning the top scorer award at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship.

The dazzling dribbles through the UAE U23 defense to set up Le Phat's goal, the perfectly placed pass for Quoc Viet to score against South Korea U23, and then his own free-kick goal... these are just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, Dinh Bac's influence is immense, with the former Quang Nam striker handling everything from scoring and assisting to dribbling and drawing defenders into his own half.

Dinh Bac is number one in the Vietnam U.23 team.

PHOTO: TED TRAN TV

Returning from the U23 Asian Championship, Dinh Bac flourished at Hanoi Police FC, scoring 10 goals in 7 matches and topping the list of top domestic goalscorers. Clearly, the glory with the Vietnam U23 team boosted Dinh Bac's confidence. He has great motivation to strive for success and a position significant enough for coach Alexandre Polking to utilize him despite the absence of other stars. Coupled with the Vietnamese Silver Ball award at the age of 21, Dinh Bac is a prime example of the next generation of players.

However, the last time Dinh Bac started for the Vietnamese national team was three years ago. The striker from Nghe An was discovered by coach Philippe Troussier during the 2024 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, then brought into the national team for training and given a starting spot upon recognizing his potential. In return, Dinh Bac scored a memorable goal and played a memorable match against Japan, becoming one of the most promising young "rising stars" to start for the national team at the age of 19. But, when Troussier left his position, Dinh Bac also fell into obscurity. He was used by coach Kim Sang-sik in some friendly matches, but then was not included in the AFF Cup squad. In the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Dinh Bac was completely absent from the starting lineup.

Securing a stable place in the national team is the final hurdle Đình Bắc needs to overcome to rise to stardom. There are players who perform well in the U23 team, then... disappear from the national team. There are also players who excel in the V-League, but are ignored by the national team coach. Because to impress Coach Kim, besides skill, a player also needs to be compatible with the team's tactics.

Dinh Bac has made progress under the guidance of coach Polking.

PHOTO: MINH TU

The only issue with Dinh Bac was timing. When he first arrived, coach Kim Sang-sik had to prioritize experienced players rather than risking a rising star. And when Dinh Bac finally shone, he missed out on the national team due to a suspension (the red card in the match against South Korea U23 counted towards the senior national team).

This time, however, no one could stop Dinh Bac. He had already proven his abilities and was preparing to complete his suspension and return to the national team.

When the flag is in your hand, you must seize it.

A player who scored against Japan at the Asian Cup, does he really need the AFF Cup, with its matches against weaker opponents, to showcase his abilities?

The issue isn't about scoring against which team or in which competition. What Dinh Bac needs to demonstrate is his ability to maintain consistency over a long period of time with the Vietnamese national team.

Not just one award, but many awards. Not just one year, but many years.

Before Dinh Bac, Quang Hai had a brilliant 2018, playing a key role at the U.23 Asian Championship, then becoming a mainstay of the Vietnamese national team and winning the AFF Cup. But Quang Hai's value doesn't just lie in that 2018 year. He is one of the best players in history because he has maintained that form for many seasons. Eight years after the miracle in Changzhou, Quang Hai remains a mainstay of CAHN Club, an indispensable face for coach Kim Sang-sik in the national team, still scoring goals and providing assists regularly, and holding a secure position among a host of stars.

Dinh Bac needs to be more resilient.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

Having played alongside Quang Hai at CAHN Club, Dinh Bac understands this even more clearly. The flow of football is always harsh. A brilliant performance in a tournament can be forgotten like a stone falling into a deep lake, creating only a few ripples. Dinh Bac needs more stability and should never be complacent.

That's also the professionalism that the former Quang Nam striker possesses. Dinh Bac has a strong personality (which is obvious in any good player), but he's also willing to temper his ego and step back when needed, and the moment he gave Alan Sebastiao the penalty in the match between CAHN Club and Thanh Hoa is a prime example.

A great journey begins with small steps. The 2026 AFF Cup marks the "second" start for Dinh Bac on his path to conquering the Vietnamese national team.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dinh-bac-can-aff-cup-de-vuon-tam-ngoi-sao-185260529203224036.htm