Southeast Asian fans collectively erupted as Đình Bắc was named the Most Impressive Player of the continent

Outshining talents from Japan and China by a landslide in votes, forward Nguyễn Đình Bắc was formally recognized as the Most Impressive Player in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

Asian football has just witnessed a "seismic event" when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the results of the "Most Impressive Player" poll. Nguyễn Đình Bắc, the striker of Vietnam's U23 team, set an unprecedented record by winning with 86.71% of the total votes. This figure not only placed him far ahead in first place but also surpassed the runner-up, goalkeeper Li Hao (China), by more than 76%.

Immediately after the announcement, Southeast Asian football forums exploded with thousands of comments. Most regional fans expressed amazement at the passion of Vietnamese supporters as well as the genuine talent of the 2004-born striker.

A fan from Thailand shared: "This winning rate is truly insane; I've never seen anyone dominate like this in a continental tournament. Congratulations to Đình Bắc, he really is a whirlwind on the field."

Many Indonesian fans also praised the unity of Vietnamese supporters: "The enthusiasm of Vietnamese fans is world-class, but it’s undeniable that Đình Bắc’s performance in this tournament was outstanding. He possesses rare speed and a killer instinct for a U23 player."

Meanwhile, a Malaysian account commented on his future: "Vietnamese football is holding a diamond. With this title, Đình Bắc will soon catch the attention of clubs in Japan or South Korea. His future and that of Vietnam’s national team truly look very promising."

In fact, Đình Bắc’s display in the Arab region fully lived up to expectations. The AFC homepage described him as a well-rounded striker: possessing speed, intelligent movement, and tireless fighting spirit.

He is not only a goal scorer but also an inspiration helping Vietnam U23 compete evenly with the giants. Even the star Ryunosuke Sato (the tournament MVP chosen by experts) received only 0.19% of audience votes, further proving Đình Bắc’s powerful brand appeal.

This award is not only a prestigious individual honor but also an affirmation of the status of Vietnamese youth football on the continental map. For Đình Bắc, 2026 is becoming a brilliant turning pointopening opportunities to rise as one of Asia’s top football stars in the near future.