The Vietnamese U23 team has become a star, but are they facing future concerns similar to Quang Hai and Bui Tien Dung?

The U23 Vietnam players returned home after their third-place finish at the U23 Asian Championship and were given a warm welcome.

From the airport to social events, they quickly attracted the attention of the media and the community.

Some localities immediately organized award ceremonies to honor the players' achievements, and their families also benefited from the increased business opportunities thanks to their children's prominent image on the national team.

Immediately after the Asian Championship concluded, VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu reminded the entire team that although the U23 tournament had ended, there was still a long way to go. He stated that the players must continue to strive and dedicate themselves to the greater goals of Vietnamese football. This sentiment aligns with that of many fans, who have witnessed numerous cases of young players who were once highly praised but then stagnated.

The 2018 U23 team, which finished as runners-up, is a prime example, with several players experiencing significant ups and downs. Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung is often mentioned as a star who "didn't live up to expectations," failing to compete for a place in the national team or dominate V-League seasons. Quang Hai, on the other hand, went through a long period of damage to his reputation due to off-field issues.

Dinh Bac became a prominent name after the recent tournament. Shortly after returning home, he used his prize money to buy a car and build a house for his family. An event featuring Dinh Bac attracted such a large crowd of fans that security had to assist him inside. This image led many on social media to comment that they hoped the young striker would avoid complacency and focus on his career. However, the warning "don't fly too high before you're stable enough" is actually not new in Vietnamese football, having been mentioned hundreds of times across generations.

Youth tournaments are still youth tournaments, and the U23 Asian Championship, despite its prestige, is still only a tournament at the U23 level. Superiority at the youth level doesn't guarantee success at the senior national team level. The story of Uzbekistan dominating youth tournaments but only recently qualifying for the World Cup is the most recent example. Even their player who won the Best Player award at the 2018 U23 Asian Championship, Odiljon Hamrobekov, is still playing in the region instead of in Europe as expected.

After the U23 Asian Championship, Dinh Bac will have to compete fairly with other strikers in the V-League to catch the eye of coach Kim Sang Sik. In the national team, no one has a guaranteed place. Do Hung Dung was a prime example: before playing for the national team under coach Park Hang Seo, almost no one knew who he was, even though he was already 23 years old and hadn't played in any international youth tournaments.

Football is characterized by two realities: fierce competition and the need to secure one's future. Doan Van Hau has an ideal physique but was unable to maintain a consistent starting position in the Dutch league. Prolonged injuries sidelined him for a period, but he earned a comfortable life thanks to his salary and bonuses from the national team. If a less well-known player were in a similar situation, they would likely disappear from football to pursue another career, largely forgotten. Therefore, it's understandable that young players seize the opportunity when they gain fame to secure lucrative contracts.

Many players aspire to be like Bui Tien Dung: achieving fame in the youth team, securing financial stability through his image, starting a business, getting married, and continuing to play football. However, achieving all of that requires a combination of talent, early effort, the ability to overcome a competitive environment, and even luck. Ultimately, only 23 players are selected by the coach, and they must also fit the coach's tactical system. This competition is even more intense than many professions considered difficult. With such risks involved, it's hard to blame young players for seizing opportunities to secure their future.

Dinh Bac was suspended for a red card, but caught the eye of the beauty pageant mogul. Đình Như18:31:04 24/01/2026Some fans believe that the absence of Dinh Bac forces the head coach to consider reinforcing the squad, even calling on key players like Doan Van Hau or Nguyen Xuan Son to ensure a stable lineup during this crucial period.