Vietnamese prodigy ranks among the world's top 60, causing HAGL's early exit

Trần Gia Bảo missed a penalty kick, resulting in HAGL being knocked out by PVF CAND in the U19 National quarterfinals.

Trần Gia Bảo recently experienced an unfortunate moment by missing a penalty during the shootout in the 2025/26 U19 National quarterfinal match between HAGL and PVF CAND. This miss caused the Mountain Town team to lose their advantage and fall 2-4 in the penalty shootout, and were forced to exit the tournament early at the quarterfinal stage.

Nevertheless, that slip cannot overshadow the fact that Gia Bảo is currently one of the most outstanding names in Vietnamese youth football. Back in October 2025, he attracted international media attention by being included in a special list.

Specifically, The Guardian (UK) released the “Next Generation 2025” list featuring the top 60 most promising young talents worldwide. Among them, Trần Gia Bảo was the sole representative from Southeast Asia, marking a milestone that highlights the rare potential of the Hoàng Anh Gia Lai club player.

The article, written by veteran journalist John Duerden, described Gia Bảo as a “shining gem” of Vietnamese football. According to The Guardian, the forward made history as the youngest player to appear and score in the 2024/25 V.League 1 season at just 16 years old.

Previously, Gia Bảo had gained recognition for his excellent technique, agile movement, and confident demeanor. He stood out not only in youth competitions but also showed boldness in his playstyle, frequently making a difference with decisive and skillful moves.

At the national team level, Gia Bảo also left his mark with Vietnam’s U17 squad during the 2025 AFC U17 Championship, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Japan’s U17 team. Victories over Uzbekistan U16 and Japan U17 at the 2024 U16 CFA Team China tournament further illustrate the growth journey of the HAGL “prodigy,” despite lessons still ahead—such as the recent missed penalty.