From youngest to leader
The 10-0 victory over U17 Timor Leste of U17 Vietnam leaves a strong mark on Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc. In the 5th minute, this player wearing number 10 took a difficult free kick close to the touchline. He "draws a rainbow" and sends the ball straight into the goal to the opponent's surprise.
Still a set-piece situation in the 31st minute, at the free kick point near the penalty area with a wider shooting angle, Nguyen Luc confidently finished into the net of U17 Timor Leste for the 2nd time. The hat-trick was completed by him with a skillful curling shot in the penalty area in the 35th minute, closing the performance with 10 points, helping U17 Vietnam win impressively.
For those who followed U17 Vietnam participating in the AFC U17 Championship 1 year ago, Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc is a familiar name. Although born in 2009 and one of the 2 youngest players in last year's squad, this midfielder still received great trust from the coaching staff. The proof is that in this tournament, Nguyen Luc played all 3 group stage matches.
Unfortunately, U17 Vietnam drew all 3 matches with the same score of 1-1 against Australia, Japan, UAE and could not get through the group stage, thereby missing the ticket to the World Cup.
Closing that unfinished journey, Nguyen Luc played the role of a link between two generations of U17 Vietnam. From being the youngest, the 17-year-old midfielder became the leader towards the dream of participating in the 2026 U17 World Cup.
Maturity
In 2023, in the U16 Hanoi jersey at the Hooray Cup friendly tournament held in China, Nguyen Luc made a strong impression with a double goal in the match against U16 Dortmund (competing for 5th place).
Half a year ago, Nguyen Luc continued to participate with U17 Hanoi in the 2025 National U17 Championship finals. He is the best player of the tournament, making a great contribution to helping U17 Hanoi overcome a series of opponents to successfully defend the championship, extending the impressive streak in the playground for young people.
Over the past 3 years, Nguyen Luc has matured very quickly. This player is setting the first milestones in the journey towards the professional arena.
Progressing so quickly, but the 16-year-old still keeps his feet on the ground. He said: "I am very happy to be given opportunities by coach Roland in many different attacking positions. He also allows me to develop my vision, creativity and passing ability to support teammates and create opportunities.
Nguyen Luc continued: "My biggest goal is to become a true professional football player, constantly developing and one day wearing the national team jersey, playing for top clubs.
I want my family to be proud, repay the affection of the fans and inspire young players who share the same passion for football as me".
Nguyen Luc also revealed 2 idols that he always looks at to learn from and follow in his footsteps when playing on the field: "My biggest idol in Vietnamese football is Mr. Nguyen Hoang Duc. I admire his composure, technique and football thinking.
At the international level, I really like players like Kevin De Bruyne. His ability to control the match and accurate passes is something I have always learned and studied.
Nguyen Luc and U17 Vietnam still have a long way to go ahead. The team sets a goal to win the Southeast Asian championship, then focus maximally on the 2026 AFC U17 Championship finals. If they win 1 of the top 2 positions in the group stage, the door to this World Cup will no longer be unfinished for Nguyen Luc.
Another interesting point about Nguyen Luc is that he often prays before going to the field to compete.
I am not superstitious, but I believe in positive habits that help me prepare well mentally. Before each match, I always spend a few quiet minutes praying, hoping that the match will go smoothly and the whole team as well as myself can play at their best. That helps me calm down, maintain focus and be ready to burn myself out on the field," Nguyen Luc expressed.
