Changeable turning point
The resounding success at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship finals completely changed the life of goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung.
From a goalkeeper born in a difficult family situation, he built a house for his parents, creating a new full life, able to buy branded goods, luxury cars...
Mentioning the tournament that made his personal brand and changed his life, Bui Tien Dung once compared himself to a... power pole. And when the power pole stands there, people will paste advertisements and labels.
He admitted that he is under pressure, having to strain himself to make others happy, having to live in a way that makes others happy. But Dung also understands that, besides the downside of that pressure, the glory of the football field has brought him a lot of money. And from here, he builds a complete family home, creating a solid support for his wife and children.
Bui Tien Dung is not the first case when mentioning the story of players who can earn money outside of their football expertise. But at least, looking at the turning point of Dung "goal", with the way he has gone through many aspects, later generations also understand what they need to do and how to stand firm when they become famous.
Hoang Duc is also an example of knowing how to control his own fame. It took 2-3 years after the Changzhou aura, the midfielder born in 1998 received more attention from fans through his impressive performance in the Vietnamese national team.
In fact, commercial value came to Hoang Duc much earlier than the huge signing bonus he received from Ninh Binh last season. Thanks to that, he has money to buy a car, build a house, own a luxury apartment, and invest in real estate as he is now.
Throughout that 5-year journey of success, Hoang Duc has not lost himself after attending events or acting in advertisements. He even continuously appeared in the top 3 of the Vietnam Golden Ball annually, including 2 times winning the highest title.
The key comes from the 28-year-old player recognizing the core value: Only when playing well on the football field can he maintain his fame and large income.
Seeking balance
It is very difficult to quantify and absolutely standardize how much a famous player attends events or acts in commercials is enough. The time when a player is most busy and stressed in finding a balance between expertise and commerce often occurs right after they create a major milestone, which is of great interest to the football enthusiast.
Nguyen Dinh Bac at the present time is an example. Success at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship helped the player from Nghe An to be noticed by fans and many businesses. That is also the beginning of debates between players should focus on playing football instead of indulging in events and advertising.
Dinh Bac and similar cases should seek advice from fitness experts, psychologists, representatives and the business department to have appropriate orientations. These are people who can work with players to build a scientific schedule, help maintain form on the pitch, and at the same time effectively exploit personal image outside the pitch.
In 2025, Goal (international version) listed in detail a day of activity for superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Besides the large amount of time spent on training, nutrition, and recovery, Ronaldo also spends 2 hours on communication and commercial activities.
Accordingly, after a short nap lasting from 11 am to 12:30 pm, he and his representative team will meet advertising partners (take photos, film) or answer interviews. Of course, Ronaldo will only meet and participate in the above activities after the assistant team builds a specific schedule by day, week or month.
After this period, the Portuguese star will only focus on his private life. That is how Ronaldo balances 3 roles: KOL, player and family.
