Que Ngoc Hai teases Dinh Bac with a "strange" nickname, causing a stir on social media.

Nguyen Dinh Bac shone in the Vietnam U23 team not only because of his talent but also because of his spirit of learning from his idol, Que Ngoc Hai. From admiration to inspiration, the connection between "fan" and "idol" is creating a beautiful story for Vietnamese football.

Following impressive performances at major tournaments such as the 33rd SEA Games and the AFC U23 Championship, Nguyen Dinh Bac is emerging as one of the brightest stars in Vietnamese football today. The striker, born in 2004, not only attracts attention for his skills but also wins the hearts of fans with his passionate playing style, fighting spirit, and progressive attitude.

Considered an "idol" by many young people, Dinh Bac himself also has some older brothers whom he always admires especially. Among them, the name most often mentioned is Que Ngoc Hai – the captain of the Vietnamese national team, an older brother from his hometown of Nghe An whom Dinh Bac always considers an ideal role model to learn from.

Before becoming the phenomenon he is today, Dinh Bac had often expressed his affection and respect for Que Ngoc Hai. In an interview, the young striker frankly shared: "In Vietnam, Que Ngoc Hai is a role model of resilience that I need to learn from. Hai also faced certain difficulties but then came back and became the leader of the national team." These simple words clearly show the deep admiration Dinh Bac has for his senior teammate.

Beyond mere admiration, Dinh Bac affirmed that Que Ngoc Hai is the person who has inspired him the most in his career. It is Hai's steely resolve, ability to overcome pressure, and the way he leads the team that have taught Dinh Bac how to keep a cool head and play more confidently in tense situations.

In recent tournaments, fans were particularly amused to discover that Dinh Bac had many moments on the field similar to Que Ngoc Hai, especially the situation where he waved his hand to encourage his teammates – an action considered a "trademark" of the Vietnamese national team captain. That image quickly spread on social media, and Que Ngoc Hai himself shared it, adding a humorous comment: "I've seen another dinosaur."

On social media, the close and friendly relationship between the two players became even more apparent. After Vietnam U23's defeat to China U23 in the semi-finals of the Asian U23 Championship, Dinh Bac posted a status update apologizing to the fans. Right below, Que Ngoc Hai left a message of encouragement: "You will still return to the embrace and love of Vietnamese football fans for what you have contributed on this journey. Now is the time to be strong and fight harder in the final match. Keep going, young players!"

That encouragement partly boosted the morale of Dinh Bac and his teammates. Not long after, the Vietnam U23 team delivered an outstanding performance, defeating South Korea U23 to win third place at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. The victory was not only a professional achievement but also a testament to the never-give-up spirit of this young generation of players.

Upon returning to Vietnam, Dinh Bac continued to win over fans by preparing a special gift for Que Ngoc Hai's daughter: a jersey signed by all the team members. On his personal page, Que Ngoc Hai posted a picture of his daughter wearing the jersey along with a thank you message: "Thank you for the super cool gift from Uncle Nguyen Dinh Bac."

Coach Kim Sang-sik "reveals" a special approach specifically for Dinh Bac. Tuyết Linh16:49:45 26/01/2026During an online Q&A session at the VFF headquarters, coach Kim Sang-sik for the first time clarified his vision for Dinh Bac, emphasizing the young striker's potential and long-term development path.