Striker Nguyen Tien Linh (No. 22)

Football star Tien Linh, 23, is currently playing for Becamex Binh Duong FC and has developed into a key man for the national side with head coach Park Hang-seo trusting the forward to lead the line during the World Cup 2022 qualifiers.

So far he has scored two goals in his FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, firing Vietnam to the top of Group G.

“The Becamex Binh Duong forward failed to find the back of the net in Vietnam's goalless draw against Thailand in the opener, but he showed a glimpse of his genius when he was on target in their 3-1 victory over Indonesia.

Then came his finest moment of the qualifying campaign thus far: he scored the only goal against the United Arab Emirates, with the victory moving Vietnam to the top of Group G, a group many anticipated to be tricky and too tough to call,” the FIFA article states.

"Each striker is satisfied with scoring goals and contributing to the team's victories and so am I," Tien Linh told FIFA.com during a recent interview. "But in my opinion, I should thank my team-mates for the goals I score. I wouldn't get the opportunities without their collective efforts.

"For me, it's a dream come true to represent my country in World Cup qualifying," Tien Linh continued in a cool manner. "If you are a footballer, it's the greatest honour to join the national team and play in World Cup qualification. This campaign will be memorable for the rest of my playing career."

In the interview, the striker also shared his goal of winning the V.League with his club, defending the AFF Suzuki Cup title with the national team, and continuing to play a crucial role for his team in World Cup qualifying as they strive to reach the next round.

The Vietnamese national team are scheduled to join up in late March to prepare for their 2022 World Cup qualifier against Malaysia on March 31. VOV

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