Hanoi, 25 January 2026 – Nguyen Dinh Bac has become the first Vietnamese player to win the Top Scorer award at an AFC U23 Asian Cup, after emerging on top of a tightly contested race at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
In the final, which concluded just minutes earlier, Ryunosuke Sato of U23 Japan scored from the penalty spot, allowing him to draw level with Nguyen Dinh Bac on four goals and two assists. However, Sato was substituted late in the match and was unable to add to his tally, bringing the Golden Boot race to a close.
At the end of the tournament, four players finished with the same number of goals: Nguyen Dinh Bac, Ryunosuke Sato, Ali Azaizeh (U23 Jordan) and Leonardo Farah Shahin (Lebanon). Despite the tie, the AFC officially awarded the Top Scorer title to Nguyen Dinh Bac, as he logged fewer minutes on the pitch than the other contenders.
According to the AFC’s assessment, Nguyen Dinh Bac’s achievement stood out given that he started only two matches for U23 Vietnam and played limited minutes overall due to injury. His efficiency in front of goal and overall impact were decisive factors in the final decision.
Previously, at the 2018 edition of the tournament, Nguyen Quang Hai delivered a memorable performance, helping U23 Vietnam reach the final and scoring a famous free kick later dubbed the “Snow Rainbow.” However, despite netting five goals, Quang Hai finished behind Almoez Ali, who claimed the Golden Boot with six goals even though U23 Qatar were eliminated by Vietnam in the semifinals.
With this historic milestone, Nguyen Dinh Bac has etched his name into Vietnamese football history as the nation’s first Golden Boot winner at a U23 Asian Cup. It marks another significant step in the career of the determined young forward as he continues his journey toward further growth and excellence.
Ha Anh
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