Tien Linh: If you score a goal in Thailand, you will join the 100-goal club!

Tien Linh: Just 1 step away from 100 goals!

In the early days of 2025, Viet Tri Stadium is the focus of Southeast Asian football, with the first leg of the AFF Cup 2024 final between Vietnam and Thailand at 8:00 p.m. on May 2. Personally, Tien Linh is burning with a very special determination.

Like every other Vietnamese player, the striker born in 1997 longs to go on the field and kick the “War Elephant” net, to help coach Kim Sang-sik and his team have the greatest advantage to create momentum for the second leg of the final. then 3 days.

In particular, Tien Linh has great motivation because if he scores again against Thai opponents in the upcoming match, he will officially reach the milestone of 100 goals in his career.

At this time, Tien Linh had 74 professional goals for Binh Duong Club – his first and only team, including 66 goals in the V-League, 7 goals in the National Cup and 1 in the AFC Cup. (now AFC Champions League 2).

In addition, he also had 25 goals for the Vietnamese team after 56 matches, ranking 3rd in history, only 2 goals less than his former teacher Le Huynh Duc (27 goals after 52 matches) and his senior. tops Le Cong Vinh (51 goals, 83 matches).

Possessing a record of 99 goals at the age of 27 is recognition for the talent and efforts of the striker born in 1997, who once thought about working as a security guard if he could not pursue a football career, and overcame injuries very well. heavy to become the top goalscorer of the Vietnamese team.

Waiting for fate before the Thai people

In the colors of the Vietnamese team, Tien Linh’s list of “victims” stretches from Southeast Asia with every opponent he has ever encountered such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore…, to the continent (China, UAE, North Korea, Oman…).

As for the Thai opponent, up to now, fans still remember quite clearly the phase when Tien Linh rushed to open the scoring in the final first leg at My Dinh (2-2 draw) in the AFF Cup 2022, to become the First Vietnamese to win top scorer (6 goals).

Tien Linh scored a double to help Vietnam U.22 team draw 2-2 and eliminate Thailand U.22 from the group stage, then won the historic SEA Games gold medal in the Philippines 2019. In the most recent encounter at the tournament friendly match in September 2024, Tien Linh also tore through Thailand’s defense to open the score for the Vietnamese team.

At this AFF Cup 2024, Tien Linh has scored 4 goals, including 3 goals in the last 3 matches. He is currently a particularly powerful trump card for coach Kim Sang-sik, entering the field in the second half when the opponent was down to strength to join Xuan Son in creating a double-barreled gun that has been fired 8 times in 3 consecutive matches.

Looking back in 2024 alone, Tien Linh has scored 23 goals, making him the top candidate for the 2024 Vietnam Golden Ball race, far ahead of competitors like Tuan Hai or Van Toan.

At this moment, the young man from Hai Duong and Binh Duong is concentrating hard to once again score against Thailand, helping the Vietnamese team defeat the “War Elephants” in Viet Tri, creating momentum for the overall victory. meeting at Rajamangala 3 days later.