Dinh Bac aims for the ASEAN Cup 2026 Golden Boot award.

Scoring a hat-trick against Timor Leste in Vietnam's 7-0 win in the ASEAN Cup 2026 opener not only brought three points and the lead in Group A but also might be the breakthrough that changes the trajectory of Nguyen Dinh Bac's career.

After two years of remarkable growth at the U22, U23, and senior national team levels, the 22-year-old striker is now on the verge of a breakthrough to become a new star of Vietnamese football, even a strong candidate for the tournament's Golden Boot award.

Three goals against Timor Leste helpedDinh Bacbecome the brightest star in Vietnam's 7-0 victory.

That was not only his first hat-trick for the national team but also a strong affirmation of the maturity of a talent who has long been expected.

What made the performance ofDinh Bacspecial was not the number of goals, but the way he scored them. Each goal had a different flavor: intelligent positioning, sensitive cutting runs, calm finishing in the box, or one-touch strikes.

Dinh Bac is no longer a player who relies mainly on inspiration. He is becoming a more complete striker, knowing when to accelerate, when to combine, and when to coldly finish off opponents.

From the U22, U23 teams to the senior national team, Dinh Bac has always been a prominent name in Vietnamese football. Every time he dons the national jersey, he shows positive energy, tireless fighting spirit, and a desire to prove himself. This constant improvement has helped the 22-year-old forward gradually perfect his physique, finishing skills, off-the-ball movement, and tactical thinking.

Coach Kim Sang Sik saw that before anyone else. Throughout the preparation for the ASEAN Cup 2026, the South Korean manager always gave special trust to Dinh Bac. He was given many opportunities to start in friendly matches, encouraged to boldly create breakthroughs, and became an important link in Vietnam's attacking system.

That trust was quickly rewarded. What is admirable is that even after scoring, Dinh Bac did not reduce his intensity. The desire to contribute is always present in every step of the striker from Nghe An.

That very energy makes people believe thatthe ASEAN Cup 2026could become the tournament that takes Dinh Bac to a new level.

In fact, the 22-year-old striker has always been lucky in regional tournaments. At the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, Dinh Bac won the Golden Boot award, making a significant contribution to Vietnam U23's championship.

A year later, he continued to make history at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup by scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists, thereby winning the Golden Boot. That achievement made Dinh Bac the first Vietnamese player and also the first Southeast Asian player to win the Golden Boot at an AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.

After the hat-trick in the opening match of the ASEAN Cup 2026, Dinh Bac has a solid foundation to aim for the Golden Boot that Xuan Son achieved two years ago (7 goals, 2 assists). He has gained a significant advantage in the goal-scoring race and, more importantly, is in very high form and inspiration.

Behind Dinh Bac is a well-organized team. Quang Hai and Hoang Duc provide key passes to unlock defenses, Hoang Hen shares the goal-scoring burden, while Xuan Son, with his hold-up play and ability to attract defenders, creates plenty of space for teammates to run into. In that system, Dinh Bac has all the conditions to maximize his qualities.

Of course, Timor Leste is not a big enough measure. Challenges named Singapore or Indonesia will reveal the true value of the 22-year-old striker. But the important thing is that Dinh Bac is entering those matches with great confidence.