European-class Vietnamese overseas star causes a sensation by scoring abroad

Vietnamese overseas midfielder Trần Thành Trung has netted his first goal since joining the Vietnamese league.

Ninh Bình FC recently played a friendly match against Albirex Niigata (S), which ended 2-1 in favor of the ancient capital team. This was Ninh Bình’s final friendly during their training camp in Singapore. Previously, Ninh Bình also faced another club, Lion City Sailors, but that match's result remained unchanged.

Trần Thành Trung and Geovane Magno each scored to break the opponent’s defense. This was also Thành Trung’s first goal wearing the Ninh Bình FC jersey. The team has gained valuable match experience, especially with newcomers Trương Tiến Anh and Hoàng Thái Bình getting opportunities to gradually integrate with the squad.

This season Trần Thành Trung has appeared 6 times in the V-League, providing 2 assists but has yet to score a goal. Although this goal was not in an official match, it serves as motivation for the Vietnamese overseas midfielder to gain confidence moving forward. After a challenging start upon returning to Vietnam, he is gradually adapting and proving his worth in the Ninh Bình lineup.

Midfielder Trần Thành Trung has been repeatedly called up but has yet to participate in any official tournaments with Vietnam’s U22/U23 teams. Initially, he was invited to the U23 Vietnam squad preparing for the AFC U23 qualifiers but was cut when the roster was trimmed.

Later, he was not included in the initial list for SEA Games 33; although called up as a replacement for the injured Văn Trường, he was again excluded when the final 23-player squad was confirmed. This time, he was also absent from the squad for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals.

Born in Bulgaria to a Vietnamese family, Trần Thành Trung holds dual citizenship of Vietnam and Bulgaria. He developed through the renowned CSKA Sofia academy before moving to Slavia Sofia, one of Bulgaria’s oldest clubs competing in the Bulgarian top division. Recently at Ninh Bình, Thành Trung has gradually secured a starting position.