Indonesian media unexpectedly warns about Tiến Linh's future with the Vietnam national team

According to Indonesian media, forward Nguyễn Tiến Linh faces the danger of being sidelined from the Vietnam squad as his performance drops and the battle for attacking spots intensifies before the 2026 AFF Cup.

Indonesian media recently drew attention by offering a fairly straightforward assessment of Nguyễn Tiến Linh's future with the Vietnam national team. With the 2026 AFF Cup approaching, Bola Sport claims that the former Vietnamese Golden Ball winner is in danger of losing his usual place in the forward line after a prolonged period of poor form.

According to the assessment of the archipelago's press, Tiến Linh can no longer maintain the impressive scoring rate he achieved in previous seasons,The 1997-born striker was once the joint top scorer of the 2022 AFF Cup with 6 goals, and was a mainstay in Vietnam's attack for many years. However, his performances this season have not met the expectations of experts or fans.

Bola Sport points out that Tiến Linh went through a streak of 14 consecutive matches without scoring before he got back on the scoresheet in May. As of the current stage of the 2025/26 V.League season, the number of goals this striker has tallied is still quite modest compared to other top scorers. This creates a sharp contrast to last season, when Tiến Linh was still fiercely competing for the league's Golden Boot.

Notably, Tiến Linh's difficulties stem not only from his personal form but also from major changes in the forward lineup of the Vietnam national team. Recently, several naturalized strikers have emerged and created immense competitive pressure. Nguyễn Xuân Son is still regarded as the top choice if he is in good physical condition, while names like Đỗ Hoàng Hên and Nguyễn Tài Lộc are also rising as notable options.

The Indonesian newspaper further emphasized that the Vietnam national team has achieved positive results in matches even without Tiến Linh's presence. This is seen as a sign that the position of the Binh Duong striker is no longer untouchable as before. If he does not quickly improve his form, it is entirely possible that he will face competition for a spot in the 2026 AFF Cup squad.

Nevertheless, with extensive international experience and a goal-scoring instinct proven over many years, Tiến Linh still has a chance to reclaim his status. The remaining part of the season will play a decisive role in the future of this striker with the Vietnam national team, especially as the battle in attack becomes fiercer than ever ahead of the 2026 AFF Cup.