The brand-new Gen Z center-back shocks as he is called up to the Vietnam national team

Khổng Minh Gia Bảo stands out as the most unexpected inclusion in the Vietnam national team roster this November.

On November 6th, head coach Kim Sang Sik announced the 23-player list for the Vietnam national team preparing for the match against Laos in the second leg of the 2027 Asian Cup final qualifiers. The team will gather on November 10th in Việt Trì (Phú Thọ) and is scheduled to travel to Laos on November 15th.

Compared to the previous call-up, this list features two newcomers: center-back Khổng Minh Gia Bảo (Công an TP.HCM club) and forward Nguyễn Trần Việt Cường (Becamex TP.HCM club), promising fresh energy for the national squad.

Born in 2000, Khổng Minh Gia Bảo is regarded as a center-back with strong marking and physical strength, excellent stamina, and the ability to use both feet effectively. He developed at Công an Nhân Dân club, then played for Phù Đổng Ninh Bình before joining Quảng Nam club, and transferred to CA TP.HCM in August 2025. Gia Bảo has represented Vietnam U20 and is considered one of the young defenders currently performing well in Vietnamese football.

Khổng Minh Gia Bảo is an indispensable key player and one of the most utilized players for CA TP.HCM at the moment. The 2000-born center-back has started 9 out of 10 V-League matches this season, playing full 90 minutes in 8 games. The only match he missed was due to suspension after accumulating 3 yellow cards.

Although only 1.75 meters tall, Khổng Minh Gia Bảo shows no fear when competing against foreign players. His playing style is quite aggressive, fitting the profile of a tough center-back. This is also why Gia Bảo has received 4 yellow cards in just 9 appearances.

Naturally, coach Kim Sang Sik has reasons to call Gia Bảo to the national team now. The center-back position lacks many options, repeatedly relying on names like Bùi Tiến Dũng, Duy Mạnh, Thành Chung, and Xuân Mạnh. These veterans have ample experience but sometimes face dips in form. Gia Bảo’s fierce style combined with the experience and good positional reading of senior teammates makes him a valuable option to try in the Vietnam national team at this time.