Nguyễn Quang Hải (footballer, born 1997)

1.1. Childhood and Education

Nguyễn Quang Hải was born on 12 April 1997 in Đông Anh, Hanoi, Vietnam. He is the fourth of four children born to Nguyễn Quang Thuần and Dương Thị Cúc, both of whom were farmers, leading to challenging family circumstances. Despite their financial difficulties, Quang Hải's parents fully supported his passion for football from a young age, even when his dream of having a ball to play with daily meant two days' worth of his mother's labor.

His journey in football began with a pivotal moment when he became the top scorer in the Bắc Giang junior Yamaha tournament. This performance caught the attention of Vũ Minh Hoàng, a coach at the Hanoi T&T youth academy, who recruited him. During his time at the academy, Quang Hải was adopted by Vũ Minh Hoàng and Vũ Thu Trang, who provided him with diligent coaching and care as if he were their own son.

1.2. Youth Career Development

In 2006, at the age of nine, Quang Hải officially joined the Hanoi T&T youth academy. By 2013, at just 16 years old, he achieved a significant milestone by winning the National U-21 Championship with the Hanoi T&T youth team, becoming the youngest player to ever win this title.

His impressive performances continued, leading him to captain the Hanoi T&T U-19 team in 2014. In the same year, he earned consecutive Best Player awards in both the U-17 and U-19 National Championships. He also helped the U-17 Hanoi T&T team secure a runner-up finish in the U-17 National Championship and led the U-19 team to a championship title. In 2015, he again won the U-21 National Championship with U-21 Hanoi T&T, though he did not participate in the final match.

The year 2016 saw Quang Hải achieve further success, winning both the U-19 and U-21 National Championships with Hanoi. He was recognized as the Best Player in both final matches, solidifying his reputation as a burgeoning talent in Vietnamese youth football.

2.1. Saigon (loan)

In 2015, Quang Hải was loaned from Hanoi T&T to Saigon FC (then known as Hanoi FC). During this loan spell, he played a crucial role in the team's success, making 13 appearances and scoring 4 goals. His contributions were instrumental in Saigon FC winning the V.League 2 title in 2015, which secured their promotion to the top-tier V.League 1. He was considered an important player in this promotion campaign alongside teammates Đỗ Hùng Dũng and Phạm Đức Huy.

2.2. Hanoi

Quang Hải made his professional debut with Hanoi FC in 2014. After his successful loan at Saigon FC, he returned to Hanoi FC in 2016. On March 6, at just 19 years old, he made his first start in the V.League 1 against his former loan club, Saigon FC. Throughout his first V.League season, Quang Hải quickly established himself, showcasing exceptional left-footed skill and close ball control, often drawing comparisons to veteran player Phạm Thành Lương. He became a vital member of Hanoi FC's first team, contributing 3 goals in the 2016 V.League 1 season and one goal in the National Cup. That year, Hanoi FC won the V.League 1 title on goal difference over Hải Phòng, despite losing the National Cup final to Than Quảng Ninh.

In the 2017 season, Quang Hải and Hanoi FC participated in the AFC Champions League preliminary round, losing to Kitchee 2-3, which led them to compete in the AFC Cup. He played 5 out of 6 matches in the AFC Cup, where Hanoi FC was eliminated in the group stage. In the 2017 V.League 1, he scored 5 goals and the team finished third. For his outstanding performances, Quang Hải was awarded the Best Young Player of the V.League 2017 and the Vietnamese Bronze Ball.

The 2018 season saw Hanoi FC start strongly with a 1-0 victory over Hải Phòng on March 11. On April 5, Quang Hải scored his first V.League goal of the season in a dominant 5-0 win against Hoàng Anh Gia Lai. He also scored in a 2-2 draw against Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in the National Cup quarter-finals, though Hanoi was eliminated on away goals. On September 9, Hanoi FC secured the V.League 1 title five rounds early by defeating Sông Lam Nghệ An 2-0, breaking the record for the earliest title win. Quang Hải's 9 goals in 24 V.League 1 appearances were crucial to this championship. Following his impressive club and national team performances, he won his first Vietnamese Golden Ball on December 22, and was nominated for the Best Footballer in Asia award, ranking 15th, becoming the first Vietnamese player to be nominated.

In 2019, Hanoi FC began the season by winning the 2018 Super Cup 2-0 against Bình Dương. Quang Hải scored his first goal of the season on April 7 in a 4-0 victory over Sông Lam Nghệ An. He also scored his fourth goal of the season in a thrilling 4-3 National Cup quarter-final win against Nam Định. On August 16, he opened the scoring with a free-kick in a 2-1 victory against SHB Đà Nẵng. In the AFC Cup 2019, Quang Hải and his teammates reached the inter-zone play-off final for the first time, where they were eliminated on away goals. He scored two goals in the first leg of the inter-zone play-off semi-final against Altyn Asyr. Quang Hải concluded the 2019 season with 11 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions, helping Hanoi FC secure their second consecutive V.League 1 title. He was also named the V.League 1 Player of the Season with 8 goals in 24 matches. In November, he won the AFF Men's Player of the Year award, and was again nominated for the Best Footballer in Asia, ranking 17th.

The 2020 season started with Hanoi FC winning the 2020 Super Cup 2-1 against Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. On June 25, Quang Hải received the Vietnamese Silver Ball for his 2019 performances. On September 20, he scored a crucial 89th-minute goal in the 2020 National Cup final against Viettel, securing a 2-1 victory for Hanoi FC. He scored 4 goals in just 4 appearances in this competition. Hanoi FC finished second in the 2020 V.League 1, two points behind Viettel. His goal against Saigon in a 4-2 home victory on November 4 was named the V.League 2020 Goal of the Year.

The 2021 V.League 1 season was canceled after 12 rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Quang Hải scored one goal, and Hanoi FC was in seventh place before the cancellation. On March 16, 2022, in the first round of the 2022 V.League 1, Quang Hải scored the sole goal in a 1-0 home victory against Thanh Hóa. On March 22, Hanoi FC announced that Quang Hải would leave the club on April 12, seeking new challenges abroad. His last V.League appearance for Hanoi was on April 4, 2022, in a 1-0 win against Viettel. His final match for the club was on April 11, in a 2-1 comeback victory over SHB Đà Nẵng in the National Cup Round of 16. On April 12, Quang Hải's contract with Hanoi FC officially expired, and he departed as a free agent.

2.3. Pau

On 29 June 2022, following widespread speculation about his future, Quang Hải officially joined French Ligue 2 club Pau FC on a two-season contract. This move marked him as the first Vietnamese player to join a professional football club in France.

He made his official debut for Pau FC on July 30, 2022, coming on as a substitute in the 59th minute in a 0-4 away loss against Guingamp in Ligue 2. Despite the team's loss and playing only 30 minutes, Quang Hải received high ratings from experts, ranking second highest in the team with 6.9 points. He then made his first start for Pau FC in the second round, playing 68 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Dijon.

On October 8, Quang Hải scored his first goal for Pau FC in the 86th minute during a home match against Rodez in Ligue 2, securing a 2-2 draw. This historic goal made him the first Vietnamese-origin player to score in a professional European football league. He achieved this in his eighth appearance in the league, after a total of 228 minutes played. However, in subsequent matches, Quang Hải saw reduced playing time, often being benched or appearing only in the final minutes. At times, he even played for Pau B in the fifth-tier league to regain his match fitness and rhythm.

On June 5, 2023, Quang Hải's agent and Pau FC's president announced a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, one year earlier than its original expiration date.

2.4. Cong An Hanoi

On June 22, 2023, Công an Hà Nội officially announced the signing of Nguyễn Quang Hải on a 1.5-year contract.

He made his debut for Cong An Hanoi on July 2, playing 76 minutes in a 0-1 defeat against SHB Đà Nẵng. On August 12, Quang Hải scored his first goal for the club from a penalty in a 3-0 derby win against Viettel in the V.League. In the final round of the 2023 V.League 1 season, on August 27, Quang Hải provided an assist for Gustavo's equalizer against Thanh Hóa. This result secured Cong An Hanoi's first V.League 1 championship since 1984.

For the 2023-24 season, Quang Hải scored 8 goals and provided 3 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions. On December 4, after recovering from an injury, he scored his first goal of the season in a V.League match against Hải Phòng. Five days later, he scored again against Thép Xanh Nam Định. On March 3, 2024, Quang Hải scored a crucial volley from outside the box in injury time, helping the club secure a 2-2 draw against Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh. This goal propelled him to become the leading Vietnamese goal-scorer in the V.League at that time with 5 goals. Despite his efforts, the team finished sixth in the V.League and was eliminated early from the National Cup.

On July 18, 2024, Cong An Hanoi FC announced the extension of Quang Hải's contract until 2027. He became the team captain following the departure of Hồ Tấn Tài in the summer. Quang Hải played his first match of the 2024-25 season on August 22, in a 2-1 home victory against Buriram United in the ASEAN Club Championship. On September 15, he made his first V.League appearance of the 2024-25 season in a 1-1 draw against Hải Phòng, providing an assist for Léo Artur's opening goal in the 30th minute.

3.1. Youth and U-23 National Teams

Quang Hải began his international journey at a young age, being called up to the Vietnam U-16 team in 2011 at just 14 years old, where he participated in the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship qualification, making 9 appearances and scoring 2 goals.

Following an impressive performance in the 2014 U-19 National Championship, he was selected for the Vietnam U-19 team for a training camp in Japan. With the U-19 team, he was a runner-up in both the 2014 AFF U-19 Youth Championship (losing to Japan U-19 twice) and the 2014 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in Brunei. In the 2015 AFF U-19 Youth Championship in Laos, he joined the team late due to club commitments but still contributed to their runner-up finish, where they lost 0-6 to Thailand U-19. Quang Hải missed the 2016 AFF U-19 Youth Championship due to his V.League and National Cup duties with Hanoi T&T. However, he was recalled for the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship, becoming a key player in Vietnam's historic run to the semi-finals, which secured their first-ever qualification for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Notably, he assisted Hồ Minh Dĩ's opening goal against the United Arab Emirates in that tournament.

Quang Hải captained the Vietnam U-20 team in the group stage matches of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup against Honduras (hitting the crossbar) and France. Although Vietnam was eliminated in the group stage, earning one point in their debut at a FIFA World Cup youth tournament was considered a remarkable achievement. He played 5 matches for the U-20 team.

In February 2017, Quang Hải was called up to the U-23 national team for a friendly against Malaysia U-23, with the local media hailing him as a "new wind" for the team. He was praised for his impactful attacking play from the left wing in a 3-0 victory. He then featured in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, where he scored a free-kick in a 4-1 win against Cambodia U-22. Despite a talented squad, Vietnam U-22 was surprisingly eliminated from the group stage after a 0-3 loss to Thailand U-22. With the appointment of head coach Park Hang-seo, Quang Hải quickly became an indispensable part of the U-23 team's attacking setup. In the 2017 M-150 Cup friendly tournament in Thailand, he scored two impressive goals against Myanmar U-23 in a 4-0 victory, helping Vietnam U-23 secure third place.

The 2018 AFC U-23 Championship proved to be a breakthrough tournament for Quang Hải, elevating him to national hero status. He was instrumental in leading Vietnam U-23 to their first-ever continental final. In the group stage, he scored both of the team's two goals, including a goal against Australia that earned him a Man of the Match award. He also scored against South Korea, though Vietnam lost that match. In the quarter-finals against Iraq, he successfully converted his penalty during the shootout, securing Vietnam's spot in the semi-finals. His performance against Qatar in the semi-final was particularly memorable; he scored a low half-volley in the 69th minute to equalize, and then immediately struck back in the 87th minute after Qatar regained the lead, with a flamboyant dribble and shot that nestled into the far corner. Although he missed his penalty in the shootout, Vietnam won 4-3 to advance to the final. In the final against Uzbekistan, Quang Hải once again impressed, equalizing the score with a stunning free-kick goal in the 41st minute. This goal, nicknamed "rainbow in the snow" by the media, became a powerful symbol of the unprecedented emotional excitement and national spirit that swept Vietnam during the historic campaign. It was later voted as the Goal of the Tournament. Vietnam ultimately lost to Uzbekistan 1-2 in the last minute of extra time. Quang Hải was widely considered one of the best players of the tournament, earning spots in several "Teams of the Tournament" by various sources. The AFC highlighted his ability to score from long range as a key technical talking point. There were also strong criticisms from Southeast Asian media towards the AFC for not awarding him the Most Valuable Player. For his impressive performance, Quang Hải, along with teammate Bùi Tiến Dũng, was awarded the 3rd class Labor Order. He played 31 matches and scored 12 goals for the U-23 team in 2018 and 2019.

Quang Hải was included in Vietnam's squad for the 2018 Asian Games. He scored one goal in Vietnam's 3-0 win over Pakistan. In a match against Japan, he scored the only goal, leading Vietnam to defeat Japan and top their group. Vietnam reached the semi-finals for the first time in their Asian Games history, where they were defeated 1-3 by South Korea. They later lost to the UAE in a penalty shootout in the bronze medal match. He was also inducted into the Asian Games All-star squad.

Quang Hải captained the Vietnam U-22 team in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. He scored one goal in a 6-1 win against Laos. In the next match against Indonesia, Quang Hải provided a headed assist to Nguyễn Hoàng Đức for a crucial goal in a 2-1 comeback victory. However, he sustained an injury in a subsequent match against Singapore and missed the remainder of the tournament, with Đỗ Hùng Dũng taking over the captain's armband. Despite his absence, Vietnam went on to defeat Indonesia 3-0 in the final, winning their first gold medal in SEA Games football since South Vietnam's victory in 1959. Quang Hải was able to be present at the medal ceremony.

The 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, held two years after the historic 2018 run, saw a disappointing outcome for Quang Hải and Vietnam U-23. Despite a strong performance in the qualifiers, the team was eliminated in the group stage with two 0-0 draws against UAE U-23 and Jordan U-23, followed by a 1-2 defeat against North Korea U-23, finishing last in their group with only two points.

3.2. Senior National Team

On 13 June 2017, Quang Hải made his international debut for the Vietnam senior team against Jordan in a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification match that ended in a 0-0 draw, coming on as a substitute for Lương Xuân Trường. He scored his first senior goal for Vietnam on 5 September 2017 against Cambodia, coming on as a substitute and scoring a late winning header in a 2-1 victory.

In the 2018 AFF Championship, Quang Hải played a crucial role as Vietnam won its first Southeast Asian football championship in 10 years. In the first three group stage games, he was initially deployed in a midfield position, which raised questions among fans. However, in the last group match against Cambodia, he returned to a forward position and was immediately awarded Man of the Match. For the rest of the tournament, he played as an advanced playmaker, earning two more Man of the Match awards. The first was in the semi-final second leg against the Philippines, where he broke the deadlock and helped secure Vietnam's first home win in the knockout phase of the AFF Championship. In the final against Malaysia, he assisted Nguyễn Anh Đức's winning goal. At the end of the tournament, he was part of the AFF Cup's Best XI and was chosen as the Most Valuable Player. In recognition of his contributions, he was honorably awarded the second-class Labor Order by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. He then won the Vietnamese Golden Ball a few days later, largely due to his performance in the AFF Championship.

Quang Hải gained significant international reputation in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup by playing an instrumental part in Vietnam's impressive run. He scored a stunning free-kick goal against Yemen in a 2-0 victory, which helped Vietnam advance to the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams. Vietnam defeated Jordan in the Round of 16 but narrowly lost 0-1 to eventual runners-up Japan in the quarter-finals. Quang Hải was named Man of the Match in both of Vietnam's wins in the tournament and was inducted into the tournament's official All-Star Squad by the AFC Technical Committee. On November 8, 2019, he defeated Chanathip Songkrasin of Thailand to win the AFF Men's Player of the Year award, recognizing him as the best Southeast Asian player over the preceding two years.

Quang Hải scored 3 goals in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, helping Vietnam reach the final round of qualification for the first time in their history. In the first match of the third qualifying round against Saudi Arabia, Quang Hải fired a powerful long shot in the third minute to give Vietnam a 1-0 lead, though the team eventually lost 1-3. This goal made him the first Vietnamese player to score in the third round of World Cup qualification. He also assisted Nguyễn Tiến Linh's equalizer in a 2-3 loss to China. Despite their efforts, Vietnam was eliminated, finishing at the bottom of the table with 4 points, a historic achievement for the nation (including a 3-1 win over China and a 1-1 draw against Japan).

At the 2020 AFF Championship (held in 2021 due to COVID-19), he scored 2 goals against Malaysia and Cambodia in the group stage. However, Vietnam was eliminated in the semi-finals by Thailand with a 0-2 aggregate loss.

In the 2022 AFF Championship, Quang Hải's form was noticeably impacted by his limited playing time at Pau FC. Vietnam reached the final but lost to Thailand with an aggregate score of 2-3. Quang Hải's performance in this tournament was considered disappointing, with only one assist to his name.

He scored a goal at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup against Iraq in the final group stage match, an equalizer in a 2-3 loss. This goal made him the first Vietnamese player to score in two AFC Asian Cup tournaments, equaling Nguyễn Công Phượng's record for most goals (2) by a Vietnamese player in the competition. However, Vietnam was eliminated from the group stage of this tournament.

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Quang Hải was an unused substitute in both matches against Indonesia, expressing visible disappointment as Vietnam lost 0-1 and 0-3. He made his first appearance in the qualifiers against Philippines on June 6, playing 73 minutes before being substituted for Phạm Tuấn Hải, who scored the winning goal in a 3-2 comeback victory. He also started in the final Group F match, a 1-3 loss to Iraq. Vietnam was ultimately eliminated from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, finishing third in their group behind Indonesia and Iraq.

Under new head coach Kim Sang-sik, Quang Hải was named in the 26-player squad for the 2024 ASEAN Championship. In this tournament, he made a significant impact by scoring two goals in victories against Indonesia (1-0) and Myanmar (3-0 in a 5-0 win), helping Vietnam advance to the semi-finals. In the final against long-standing rivals Thailand, he provided a precise cross that led to Vũ Văn Thanh's headed assist for Nguyễn Xuân Son's goal in the 2-1 first-leg victory. In the thrilling second leg, he came on as a substitute and provided two assists in the final minutes, including one for Nguyễn Hai Long's dramatic winning goal, securing a 3-2 victory over Thailand at Rajamangala and clinching Vietnam's third ASEAN Championship title after a six-year wait.

6.1. Club honours

Hà Nội Youth

• Vietnamese National U-19 Championship: 2014, 2016
• Vietnamese National U-21 Championship: 2013, 2015, 2016

Saigon

• V.League 2: 2015

Hà Nội

• V.League 1: 2016, 2018, 2019
• Vietnamese National Cup: 2019, 2020
• Vietnamese Super Cup: 2018, 2019, 2020

Công An Hà Nội

• V.League 1: 2023

6.2. International honours

Vietnam U19

• AFF U-19 Youth Championship runner-up: 2014, 2015
• Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy runner-up: 2014

Vietnam U22

• SEA Games: 2019

Vietnam U23/Olympic

• AFC U-23 Asian Cup runners-up: 2018
• M-150 Cup: Third place: 2017
• Asian Games: Fourth place: 2018
• VFF Cup: 2018

Vietnam

• ASEAN Championship: 2018, 2024; runners-up: 2022
• King's Cup runner-up: 2019
• VFF Cup: 2022

6.3. Individual awards

• AFF Championship Best XI: 2018, 2020
• AFF Championship MVP: 2018
• Vietnamese Golden Ball: 2018
• Vietnamese Silver Ball: 2019, 2021
• Vietnamese Bronze Ball: 2017
• Second-class Labor Order: 2018
• Third-class Labor Order: 2018
• V.League 1 Best Young Player: 2017, 2018
• V.League 1 Player of the Season: 2019
• V.League 1 Team of the Season: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• V.League 1 Goal of the Year: 2020
• ASEAN Football Federation Best XI: 2019
• AFF Men's Player of the Year: 2019
• AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2019
• AFC Cup All-time XI
• Asian Games Team of the Tournament: 2018