Dinh Bac's Special 22nd Birthday

On August 19, Nguyen Dinh Bac turned 22 during one of the most unique birthdays of his career. The striker from Nghe An celebrated his new age while wearing the Vietnam national team jersey, right before the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal against Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium. If luck smiles upon him, Dinh Bac could give himself the most meaningful gift: a goal and a ticket to the final alongside the Vietnamese team.

"Happy birthday to me!" Dinh Bac sent himself a birthday wish on his personal page on August 19. At 22, the striker born in 2004 does not wish for anything too extravagant.

"Wishing myself a new age full of health, peace, happiness, and all the best things! I hope luck will always smile on me! Keep striving and working toward bigger goals in the new year, DB7," he wrote.

Accompanying the wish was a photo of Dinh Bac in the Vietnam national team jersey. A simple picture, yet full of meaning, because his 22nd birthday fell on the same day the team entered the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal.

Tonight, in front of tens of thousands of spectators at My Dinh, Dinh Bac might not think much about his birthday. His biggest goal is to join his teammates in overcoming Malaysia to secure a spot in the final. If this striker shines once again, August 19, 2026 will surely become one of the most memorable birthdays of his life.

At an age when many young players are still searching for a place in the lineup, Dinh Bac has already built an impressive journey.

Within just about a year, the striker from Nghe An has continuously conquered new milestones. In 2025, he helped the U23 Vietnam team win the Southeast Asian U23 Championship after a 1-0 victory over Indonesia in the final. Dinh Bac also became the first Vietnamese player to receive the tournament's Best Player award.

Not long after, he continued to help the U22 Vietnam team win the Gold Medal at the 33rd SEA Games. In the final against Thailand, Dinh Bac scored a crucial goal that contributed to Vietnam's 3-2 comeback victory. These consecutive performances earned Dinh Bac the Vietnam Silver Ball 2025 and the title of Young Player of the Year.

But that was just the beginning.

At the start of 2026, Dinh Bac made another splash at the AFC U23 Asian Cup. He scored 4 goals in 6 matches, including a strike against South Korea in the third-place playoff.

Notably, Dinh Bac became the first Vietnamese player to win the AFC U23 Asian Cup Top Scorer award. He also set a record by earning 6 individual honors in a single tournament, based on fan votes, organizer selections, and professional statistics.

From a promising young player, Dinh Bac is gradually becoming one of the most prominent faces in Vietnamese football.

If his successes at the youth level helped Dinh Bac build his reputation, the ASEAN Cup 2026 is the stage for him to prove himself on the national team.

In the opening match against Timor Leste on July 24, Dinh Bac scored a hat-trick in Vietnam's 7-0 victory. This was the third time a Vietnamese player scored three goals in a single ASEAN Cup match, following Le Cong Vinh and Phan Thanh Binh.

After two goalless matches against Singapore and Indonesia, Dinh Bac made a strong comeback in the final group stage match. Against Cambodia, he scored a brace, helping Vietnam secure a 3-1 win. With 5 goals, Dinh Bac finished the group stage as the leader of the ASEAN Cup 2026 scoring chart.

That is a notable milestone, as the 22-year-old striker now has a chance to become the first player to win the top scorer award in two major tournaments in the same year, if he maintains his lead at the ASEAN Cup after already claiming the title at the U23 Asian Cup.

The Malaysian opponent also makes the race more interesting. Nguyen Xuan Son scored 3 goals after the first leg, while several other players have 4 goals. Paulo Josue of Malaysia is also one of the strikers chasing Dinh Bac. Therefore, the second leg of the semifinal is not just a battle for a spot in the final. For Dinh Bac, it is also an opportunity to defend his lead in the race for the top scorer title.

Perhaps there is no more special birthday gift than Dinh Bac and the Vietnam national team entering an ASEAN Cup semifinal on the very day he turns 22. But against Malaysia, the striker also faces a difficult challenge.

In the first leg of the semifinal, Dinh Bac received a yellow card. If he gets another yellow card in the second leg, he would miss the final if Vietnam advances. Therefore, alongside his desire to score, Dinh Bac needs to stay alert and calm. A goal would be a wonderful gift. But a victory and a ticket to the final would be the greatest gift of all.