Which Horse Year-born player is the most promising in 2026?

From the youngest captain in V-League to a key figure at Thể Công Viettel, Nguyễn Văn Việt steps into 2026 with expectations to stand out for the Vietnam national team.

Born in 2002 in Tân Kỳ (Nghệ An), Nguyễn Văn Việt developed through the SLNA academy and was promoted to the first team in 2022. Standing 1.81m tall and playing with composure, this goalkeeper won the U15 Southeast Asia Championship in 2017, the U23 Southeast Asia Championship in 2023, debuted for the Vietnam national team in 2023, has had several seasons as a starter in V-League, and is currently valued at 200,000 Euros by Transfermarkt.

Leadership milestone at SLNA

At the end of 2023, amid SLNA’s squad crisis and relegation battle, Nguyễn Văn Việt was given the captain's armband at just 21, becoming the youngest captain in V-League 2023–2024. Against HAGL in a crucial "6-point" match, the 2002-born goalkeeper showed focus, made smart decisions, and repeatedly dived to block shots, keeping a clean sheet to help SLNA win 1-0.

Wearing the captain’s armband was a rotational decision due to the absence of senior players, but Văn Việt’s performance was highly praised by SLNA’s coaching staff for his training attitude, sense of responsibility, and concentration during matches. At 21, he had already become a pillar for the youngest squad in the V-League, demonstrating rare leadership qualities for a young goalkeeper.

Turning point at Thể Công Viettel

In the summer of 2025, Nguyễn Văn Việt left SLNA to join Thể Công Viettel as part of their squad reinforcement plan ahead of the 2025/26 season. The 23-year-old goalkeeper was chosen amid the army team’s need to strengthen a previously unstable position, as the defense had conceded many goals last season, directly affecting their ambition to compete for the championship.

On his debut, Văn Việt emphasized that the new environment is both a challenge and an opportunity, as Thể Công Viettel underwent major restructuring with many new domestic players. With his V-League experience, multiple clean sheets, and U23 Southeast Asia title, the 2002-born goalkeeper is expected to bring stability, discipline, and better coordination to the army team’s defense.

A pivotal year for the Horse Year

The early rounds of the 2025/26 season clearly show Nguyễn Văn Việt’s impact as Thể Công Viettel significantly improves their goalkeeping solidity. Consecutive clean sheets helped the army team quickly climb to the top group, while the 2002-born goalkeeper earned praise for his reflexes, positioning, and spatial control. This consistent form continued throughout the later stages, helping Thể Công Viettel maintain a high-ranking position and stay close to the leaders up to now.

Entering 2026 — the "year of birth" for the 2002 generation — Nguyễn Văn Việt faces a chance to elevate his status both at club and national team levels. If he maintains his form at Thể Công Viettel and further improves his footwork and defensive chemistry, the 24-year-old goalkeeper can fully challenge Trung Kiên, Đặng Văn Lâm, and Nguyễn Filip for the Vietnam national team’s goalkeeping position.