A promising start for Vietnamese-born player Viktor Lê.

Viktor Lê made history as the most successful overseas Vietnamese player at the U23 level, with two Southeast Asian championships and a memorable journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals.

A strong boost from Viktor Le

In a period when Vietnamese national teams are increasingly welcoming overseas and naturalized Vietnamese players, aiming for major tournaments in 2026 and the 2030 World Cup, Viktor Le's success at the U23 level has created a strong impetus. Ten years after Mac Hong Quan won a bronze medal at the SEA Games in Singapore, the "Golden Star Young Warriors" have once again given an opportunity to an overseas Vietnamese player. While it's an exaggeration to say Viktor Le contributed significantly to the U23 Vietnam team's year-long journey, the efforts this overseas Vietnamese player has shown in each tournament, helping Coach Kim Sang-sik's team achieve success, are also worthy of recognition.

Viktor Lê became the first overseas Vietnamese player to win the Southeast Asian Championship with the Vietnam U23 team. He was also the first overseas Vietnamese player to win a SEA Games gold medal. Once again, Viktor Lê was the first overseas Vietnamese player in history to advance far in the AFC U23 Championship with the Vietnam U23 team. These numerous milestones, achieved by a talent who matured in Russian football, are enough to attract more attention to young overseas Vietnamese in Vietnamese football. The value and appeal of Viktor Lê lies in these achievements.

It is known that, thanks to the "magnet" named Viktor Lê, many Vietnamese expatriates living and working abroad are willing to let their children contribute to the national team. Scouting teams and agents also leverage Viktor Lê to easily approach and persuade many Vietnamese expats playing football in Europe. Rahni Moreau Nguyễn is a prime example. His family in France agreed to let their son try out for a V.League club in early 2026. Previously, Trần Thành Trung – a future hope of the Vietnam U23 team – signed a valuable contract with Ninh Bình . The player, born and raised in Bulgaria, is considered to be of a higher caliber than Viktor Lê. He promises to be a key player for the Vietnam U23 team in the near future.

Names like Lee Williams, Khoa Ngo, and Brandon Ly also gradually came to Vietnam, through the "invisible bridge" of Viktor Le.

Viktor Lê is the most successful overseas Vietnamese player at the Vietnam U23 level.

A good start.

One day before the match between Vietnam U23 and UAE U23 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, while his teammates had gone to the休息 area or participated in relaxing games with the coaching staff, Viktor Le was still practicing with the ball. The player born in 2003 tried to perform dribbling, shooting, and moving with the ball at high speed.

Previously, Viktor Lê was given an opportunity by coach Kim Sang-sik in the crucial match against U23 Saudi Arabia in the final round of the group stage. His first 45 minutes playing in the U23 Asian Championship may not have been a success for the Vietnamese-born player, but it was a memorable experience for him personally.

“I feel I performed well, fulfilling all the requirements of the coaching staff, as well as the instructions of Coach Kim Sang-sik. I hope to continue to earn his trust and support the whole team,” Viktor Le happily shared. “My parents watched me on TV. They were very happy to see me adapting to the Vietnam U23 team. I know I still have a lot to work hard for in the future. But I know that the goal will be reached if I try my best.”

For Viktor Le, the journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, whether as a player or a substitute, has been fantastic. This is because it's an Asian-level tournament, where he gets to meet, experience, and compete with a host of the continent's most promising young talents. After his last tournament at the U23 level, Viktor Le faces both opportunities and challenges. He doesn't want his memories of playing for the Vietnamese national team to end at the U23 level. For Viktor Le, this is just the beginning of a long journey with the "Golden Star Warriors."

Viktor Le's father frequently talks to him, from opportunities to play in the V.League for Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC to playing for the Vietnam U23 team. His mother, a Russian woman, also encourages and supports her son's passion for football. For the past three years, Viktor Le has regularly appeared in the V.League and has competed for positions in teams like Binh Dinh and Ha Tinh. Having secured a starting spot in Vietnam's top professional league demonstrates that Viktor's football skills are on par with any domestic player in the Vietnam U22 team.

In the 2024/25 season, Viktor Lê scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists in 24 matches, helping Hà Tĩnh finish in the top 5 of the V.League. This season, the Vietnamese-born player has already scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists after playing in just over a dozen regular matches. Everything is still ahead of Viktor Lê. His brilliant success at the U23 level will be a morale boost, motivating him to aim for a place in the Vietnamese national team, just as many of his older Vietnamese-born counterparts like Mạc Hồng Quân, Nguyễn Filip, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, and Đặng Văn Lâm have done.

The "treasure" of Hong Linh, Ha Tinh

Last summer, Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC had to make a great effort to successfully retain Viktor Le, amidst interest from many powerful V.League teams. At one point, the Central Vietnam club seemed unable to keep Viktor Le. However, the club's leader and sponsor coordinated at the right time to persuade the player, who had developed his skills in Russian football, to continue with the club. This was a beneficial decision for both sides.

Viktor Lê himself was frequently given opportunities to play by coach Nguyễn Công Mạnh. This helped the midfielder, born in 2003, maintain a consistent performance, creating a foundation for coach Kim Sang-sik to decide to call him up, train him, and give him opportunities at the Vietnam U23 level.

If there's one barrier Viktor Lê needs to overcome, it's language. He understands the Vietnamese translation provided by coach Kim Sang-sik and his teammates. However, conversely, Viktor Lê still has to use English quite frequently to communicate with the players around him. This inadvertently limits his opportunities to play, especially in important matches for the "Golden Star Young Warriors".

Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/khoi-dau-tot-dep-cua-cau-thu-viet-kieu-viktor-le-i794522/