Vietnam National Team’s Top Scorer is About to Make History

Striker Nguyễn Tiến Linh is on the verge of making history for the Vietnam national team, just two goals shy of the legendary Lê Huỳnh Đức.

Nguyễn Tiến Linh is very close to a historic milestone with the Vietnam national team, needing only two more goals to surpass the legendary Lê Huỳnh Đức and become the second highest scorer of all time in Vietnamese football. His strong resurgence at Công an TP.HCM, combined with the confidence from his coach—who was once his idol—has given him a significant boost ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying matches.

So far, Tiến Linh has scored 25 goals in 62 appearances for the Vietnam national team, just two goals behind Huỳnh Đức, who also netted 27 goals in 62 matches. The upcoming two matches against Nepal are seen as a great opportunity for him to equalize or even break his mentor’s record. If successful, Tiến Linh will become the second greatest goal scorer in the history of Vietnamese football, trailing only Lê Công Vinh (51 goals in 83 matches).

Currently, the all-time top scorer for Vietnam remains Công Vinh with 51 goals. Though Tiến Linh is still far from breaking this record, becoming one of the greatest scorers in the history of the “Golden Dragons” is already a huge source of pride for him. With Xuân Son yet to return, Tiến Linh’s goal-scoring role must be emphasized even more.

After a period of stagnation, Tiến Linh has regained his familiar goal-scoring form in the 2025/26 V-League season. With 3 goals in 6 matches, he leads the list of domestic scorers, far ahead of rivals like Tuấn Hải and Thanh Nhàn. His 0.5 goals per game ratio not only confirms his consistent scoring ability but also shows that the 1997-born striker has fully regained his confidence.

This comeback is closely linked to the important role of coach Lê Huỳnh Đức. Upon taking charge of Công an TP.HCM, he immediately brought Tiến Linh back and appointed him team captain. For someone who was once his idol, this is both an honor and a responsibility, fueling Tiến Linh’s determination to prove his worth. Being “chosen by the legend” has become a powerful motivation, helping him perform better than ever.

Back at Gò Đậu Stadium, Tiến Linh instantly shone by scoring the opening goal that led his new team to victory. This impressive form has given coach Kim Sang Sik full confidence to continue relying on him in the national team.

Unlike earlier this year when he faced fitness issues, Tiến Linh is now in peak physical and mental condition. The new V-League season has helped him reach his highest form. With support from coach Huỳnh Đức, trust from coach Kim Sang Sik, and his ambition to break records, Tiến Linh is very close to a historic milestone in Vietnamese football.