Thanh Nhan is one of the outstanding players of U22 Vietnam in Thailand when scoring the decisive goal in the final match. But few people know that the path to that moment of glory is a long journey intertwined with effort, talent and many unfinished times.
Discoverted by former head coach of the Vietnam national team - Philippe Troussier in the 2019 National U17 Finals, Thanh Nhan left Tay Ninh to join PVF, marking an important turning point in his career.
In 2022, the 19-year-old striker marked a memorable milestone when he won the National First Division Top Scorer title for Pho Hien club (now PVF-CAND).
A year later, Thanh Nhan won this title for the second consecutive time, becoming one of the potential young strikers of Vietnamese football. For many consecutive years, he has been on the list of outstanding squads of the tournament.
On November 21, 2023, at the age of 20, Thanh Nhan played for the first time for the Vietnam national team when coach Troussier sent him onto the field in the match against Iraq in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup. At all levels of the youth team, he is also a familiar face in the calls-ups.
However, Thanh Nhan's career has also been associated with regrettable missed appointments. The striker from Tay Ninh was named in the list of the Vietnam national team preparing for the 2023 Asian Cup Finals, but a last-minute injury ruined his dream.
In the 2024 U23 Asian Cup finals and the 2025 Southeast Asian Championship (ASEAN Cup), the same scenario repeated when an injury once again prevented Thanh Nhan from participating.
Therefore, the 33rd SEA Games has a special meaning for the 22-year-old player. This is the last SEA Games in Thanh Nhan's career. In this tournament, he scored two goals, including the decisive goal in the final against Thailand U22.
Before that, when U22 Vietnam was behind 0-2, Thanh Nhan was sent onto the field by coach Kim Sang-sik in the second half. The appearance of the striker born in 2003 has made the difference. His bravery, agility and ability to seize opportunities helped Thanh Nhan shoot into the Sorawat Phosaman net, contributing to the spectacular comeback of the "Golden Star Warriors".
Sharing about the moment of scoring the decisive goal, Thanh Nhan confided: "The moment of scoring the decisive goal against Thailand was very happy and I felt very proud. What helps the whole team stay focused and brave in the final minutes is because of the winning goal, for the colors of the flag and for the joy of millions of fans".
For Thanh Nhan, this match has a special meaning: "The victory over Thailand is very important to help us win the gold medal, because this is the last SEA Games. This tournament will be a stepping stone for me to try harder in the future".
In addition to the goal in extra time, the most memorable moment for the 22-year-old striker was when the final whistle blew: "When the referee blew the whistle to end the match, I really burst into joy. The dream has now come true".
Completing the tasks at the 33rd SEA Games, Thanh Nhan and her teammates are looking forward to the 2026 U23 Asian Cup Finals with the highest determination: "This is a tournament at the continental level. I missed an appointment once in 2024 and will try to play well to bring victories to the fans with my teammates".
From the goal against U19 Nutifood in 2021 that helped Thanh Nhan step into the light, to the goal against Thailand U22 at the 33rd SEA Games, the 22-year-old player's journey is a testament to his perseverance and aspiration to rise up.
That historic goal not only brought home a gold medal, but also marked an important turning point in Nguyen Thanh Nhan's career path.
