Đình Bắc is competing for the top scorer title at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship alongside two Japanese stars.

The goal that put the score at 2-1, along with an assist by the 2004-born striker, made him the focal point of the tournament and sparked a direct contest for the top scorer award.

With his goal against UAE, Đình Bắc has scored a total of 3 goals in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals. This tally places him among the second highest scorers in the tournament, just behind two forwards already eliminated — Ali Al Azaizeh (U23 Jordan) and Leonardo Farah Shahin (U23 Lebanon), both with 4 goals but no longer able to improve their records.

This means the race for the top scorer is essentially a duel, or more accurately a three-way battle, between Đình Bắc and two Japanese forwards: Ryunosuke Sato and Shusuke Furuya. All three currently have 3 goals and are still in the semifinals, so the chance to pull ahead remains wide open.

Among them, the two young Japanese stars are highly rated due to their team's fast-paced attack and superior ball control. However, Đình Bắc holds a unique advantage: he often shines at crucial moments and scores against strong opponents under high pressure.

During the group stage, the Hanoi Police Club striker scored consecutively against U23 Jordan and U23 Saudi Arabia. In the quarterfinals, he continued his streak with a sensational back-heeled header against U23 UAE, demonstrating a rare versatility for a 21-year-old forward.

Notably, Đình Bắc is not a traditional center forward. He can play as a winger, operate freely behind the main striker, or come off the bench to create unexpected chances. This flexibility allows him to appear at the right place and time consistently.

Beyond scoring, Đình Bắc significantly contributes to the overall gameplay. Against UAE, he sparked the turning point with an assist for Lê Phát’s opening goal before scoring himself to make it 2-1. So far, the number 7 jersey has 3 goals and 1 assist, directly involved in half of U23 Vietnam’s goals in the tournament.

At the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, Nguyễn Quang Hải scored 5 goals but still finished second in the top scorer race. Eight years later, fans hope another Vietnamese player can go further and possibly claim the most prestigious individual award for a striker.

U23 Vietnam’s advancement to the semifinals means Đình Bắc has at least one, possibly two more matches to improve his tally. With the leading scorers already eliminated, just one or two more goals could see the 2004-born striker take the top spot in the scoring chart.

More than just personal achievement, Đình Bắc’s form reflects the increasingly potent attacking strength of U23 Vietnam. After 4 matches, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team has scored 8 goals, second only to U23 Japan. This indicates more opportunities will come for the offense, and Đình Bắc is undoubtedly the player most expected to capitalize on them.