Nguyễn Công Phượng

Công Phượng first started his proper football training at the age of ten when he was introduced to the Đô Lương district sport center by a local football coach Trương Quang Vinh.[8] In 2006, he played for the Đô Lương District youth team at Nghệ An province's football competition.[9] Impressed Sông Lam Nghệ An F.C.'s staff at the competition, Công Phượng was invited into Sông Lam Nghệ An F.C. youth team but after a month of trial, he wasn't accepted because he didn't meet the weight requirement. Công Phượng's weight at that time was only 25.4 kg, while the minimum requirement was 30 kg and 27 kg for special cases.[10] In 2007, upon hearing the news about HAGL – Arsenal JMG Academy recruitment program, Công Phượng persuaded his parent to bring him to Pleiku, where HAGL – Arsenal JMG Academy based for the try-out. He was one of the only fourteen candidates who was accepted in to the academy out of about seven thousand candidates from all over the country in the first selection.[11]

In June 2010, Công Phượng and Nguyễn Tuấn Anh were the only two players from HAGL JMG Academy that were invited to a fifteen days overseas training program in Cambodia. It was a training program for top players of JMG Academy from all over the globe.[12]

In November 2012, Công Phượng along with Nguyễn Tuấn Anh, Lương Xuân Trường, Trần Hữu Đông Triều were four of the players from the academy received the invitation to train with Arsenal F.C. U–17 team.[13] In the letter, Arsenal's performance supervisor, Steve Morrow stated that manager Arsène Wenger was impressed with the academy's players when they beat Oxford United F.C. U–17 team in January.[14][15]

In winter 2014, HAGL – Arsenal JMG Academy team defeated Nepal U-21 3–0 in the International U-21 Thanh Niên Newspaper Cup final.[16] A double by Cong Phuong secured the crown for his team.[16]

In 2015, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai revolutionized their first team, the club released most of their players in the senior team, only a few players was kept to guide young player from the academy. Công Phượng was promoted to first team along with other academy's player from the first selection.[17] Công Phượng was given number 44 shirt instead of number 10 which he always wore when play for academy team and national U–19 team.[18]

Công Phượng made his 2015 V.League 1 debut on 4 January 2015 at the opening game of the season against Sanna Khánh Hòa F.C.. Hoàng Anh Gia Lai F.C. won this game 4–2 as Công Phượng scored twice.[19] Công Phượng scored another brace at the eighth round against Dong Thap FC.[20] Công Phượng finished 2015 season with six goals in twenty five appearances, he was club's leading goalscorer and had second most appearance.[21] On 6 January 2016, Công Phượng won the 2015 young player of the year award, beating his club mate Nguyễn Tuấn Anh who won it the previous year and Hà Nội T&T F.C. player Đỗ Duy Mạnh.[22]

After one season in Japan, Công Phượng came back Hoàng Hoàng Anh Gia Lai at 2017.

2018 season is one of his best season for Hoàng Anh Gia Lai. Công Phượng scored 12 goals at league and 4 goals at domestic cup.

Although his club just finished 11th at the end of season, Phượng was still selected in V.League's Team of the season by his performances.

In 2015, he has been loaned to Mito HollyHock for $100,000 in the J.League Division 2.[23][24] On 7 May 2016, Công Phượng made his debut for Mito HollyHock, coming on as a substitute in the 87-minute in a match against Giravanz Kitakyushu that ended 1–0.[25]

On 13 February 2019, he was loaned to K League 1 team Incheon United on a loan deal until the end of 2019 season.[26][27] He made the debut for the club in the 2–1 victory against Gyeongnam, came as a substitute in the extra time of the second half.[28]

On 1 June 2019, after just half season of the loan contract, he was released by Incheon United, which followed his desire.[29] After 14 rounds of 2019 K League 1, he only played 401 minutes among 8 games for the team, and did not score any goal.

On 30 June 2019, a Japanese newspaper named Sponichi confirmed that Công Phượng was going to join Sint-Truidense V.V. with loan contract for one year.[30] He kicked off in the last friendly match of Sint Truiden before the new season when Sint Truiden host Lommel SK at home on 17 July (losing 1–2).[31] He got the first officially match for Sint-Truiden in the 0–6 losing game against Club Brugge KV on 2 August, started playing in the 70th minute. However, he was excluded permanently from the squad after this game. He was mainly used for the youth team, had played 5 games and scored 1 goal against Club Brugge U-21 on 27 August 2019.[32]

After the unsuccessful half-season at STVV, Công Phượng was expected to return to Vietnam at the end of 2019 and play for Hoang Anh Gia Lai. However, this team has sent him to Ho Chi Minh City F.C., the runner-up of 2019 V.League 1, by another loan contract.[33]

Công Phượng kicked off in a friendly match against South Korean side Jeonnam Dragons, losing 0–1. He scored his first goal for the club in an 2020 AFC Cup group stage against Yangon United F.C..

On 1 March 2020, at Thống Nhất Stadium, Công Phượng had the first time playing a final match at the club level against Hanoi FC at Vietnamese Super Cup. At the 20th minutes, he surprised the audience by a long shot to bring an advantage to his club. But with a higher level of skills and experience, Hanoi FC fastly controlled the match and scored 2 goals to win the match. After Trần Phi Sơn, Công Phượng was one of the few players performing well.

On 26 September 2020, Công Phượng impressively scored a brace in the 5–1 victory against Nam Định F.C., but later he got toe injured during the game which made him be almost absent for the rest of 2020 season.[34] He finally resumed in the club's last match against Becamex Bình Dương on 7 November, coming as a substitute in 64th minutes.

Công Phượng was first called up to Vietnam U-19 team in September 2013 to participate in 2013 AFF U-19 Youth Championship. The team made it into the final with unbeaten run of five wins but eventually lost out to host nation Indonesia U–19 in the penalty shoot-out (7–6).[35] Công Phượng scored twice in this competition.

Công Phượng was the top goal scorer at the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship qualification held in October 2013. He scored seven goals which include a brace against Australia U–19,[36] the game ended with a shocking result of 5–1 win for U–19 Vietnam. His team finished at the top of the group with nine points and qualified for the final tournament.

At the 2014 AFF U-19 Youth Championship in September 2014, Công Phượng scored a stunning solo goal against Australia U–19 right at the end of the game which help his team achieve a 1–0 victory. The goal was voted as goal of tournament;[37] this goal helped to raise Công Phượng's popularity even more. Công Phượng scored another goal in the game against U–19 Japan. His team made it into the final and ended up as runner up after lost the game 0–1 to Japan U–19.

Công Phượng captained his team at 2014 AFC U-19 Championship held in October 2014. They were put in a tough group with other Asia powerhouses, Japan U–19, South Korea U–19, and China U–19. His team failed to make it through the group stage with two losses and one draw. This is Công Phượng's last tournament with the U–19 side.[38]

In March 2015, Công Phượng represented Vietnam U-23 at 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification.[39] He scored four goals that helped the team to qualify for the final tournament in 2016.[40]

Công Phượng was a part of Vietnam's squad that played at SEA Games 2015. His team won the bronze medal,[41] Công Phượng contributed three goals, one of which against Malaysia was voted as goal of the tournament.[42]

Công Phượng had a good individual performance at SEA Games 2017 by scoring 4 goals, but his team was unfortunately eliminated in the group stage.[43] He also missed the penalty in the crucial game against Thailand, which lost a good chance for his team to bounce back, when Vietnam was being led 0–2.[44]

Công Phượng scored four goals at 2018 AFC U-23 Championship qualification and one goal at 2018 AFC U-23 Championship against Iraq.[45] In this tournament, Công Phượng did a good job in his role as a "virtual striker" and helped Vietnam U-23 reach the final.[46]

Công Phượng made his debut for the senior national team as the substitution on 77th min at 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) game against Iraq on 8 October 2015.[47] Five days later, he once again came from the substitution, but played the whole second-half in the match against Thailand.

He scored the first goal for the national team in the 3–2 victory of the friendly match against Indonesia on 8 November 2016.

Công Phượng was an important player of Vietnam's champions squad at 2018 AFF Cup when he scored 3 goals including 2 in group stage and 1 in semi-final, against Philippines.[48]

Selected for the 2019 Asian Cup, he scored two goals in the continental tournament. His first goal of the tournament in the first match against Iraq where he scored the second goal of Vietnam, although Vietnam were defeated 2–3. In the round of 16 on 20 January 2019, Công Phượng had equalized against Jordan in the early second half, before Vietnam eliminated the Al-Nashama on penalty shoot-out; thus contributing to the very good course of the Golden Dragons, quarter finalists to everyone's surprise of the continental edition.[49]

In the final match of 2019 King's Cup, he missed a penalty shoot-out against Curacao, thus confirming the overall victory of the Caribbean team.

Scores and results list Vietnam's goal tally first.[50]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	8 November 2016	Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam	Indonesia	2–2	3–2	Friendly
2.	22 March 2017	Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam	Chinese Taipei	1–1	1–1	Friendly
3.	10 October 2017	Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam	Cambodia	4–0	5–0	2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
4.	8 November 2018	New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos	Laos	1–0	3–0	2018 AFF Championship
5.	16 November 2018	Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam	Malaysia	1–0	2–0	2018 AFF Championship
6.	6 December 2018	Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam	Philippines	2–0	2–1	2018 AFF Championship
7.	8 January 2019	Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	Iraq	2–1	2–3	2019 AFC Asian Cup
8.	20 January 2019	Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates	Jordan	1–1	1–1 (4–2 pen.)	2019 AFC Asian Cup

The rumours that Công Phượng had fabricated his age to play in younger age football competition began to circulate soon after his team won the 2014 International U-21 Thanh Niên Newspaper Cup.[52] It started with the newspaper Thể Thao 24h published on 8 November 2014, three different documents showing three different date of birth of Công Phượng and an interview with a former Hoàng Anh Gia Lai F.C. youth team's player Bùi Văn Phúc said that both him and Công Phượng had their birth certificate redone, in his case it changed 1994 to 1996 and Công Phượng from 1993 to 1995.[53] Bùi Văn Phúc later denied the newspaper's claim but the newspaper affirmed they told the truth and have recording of the conversation that they were willing to show if necessary.[54]

On 12 November, after two days working in Nghệ An Province, Vietnam Football Federation published Công Phượng's birth certificate that showed he was born on 21 January 1995.[55] On 16 November 2014, VTV Chuyển Động 24h broadcast a program pointing out problems with the birth certificate,[56] the program also published more documents to back up the claim that Công Phượng born in 1993 and asked Công Phượng to speak up.[57] On 17 November, in an interview with Người Lao Động newspaper, Công Phượng made no comment when asked about the accusation he said that he doesn't have permission from the club to answer.[58]

On 18 November, after investigating the matter, Đô Lương District's Justice Committee Division concluded that Công Phượng was born on 21 January 1995.[59] Nghệ An Province's Justice Department reached the same conclusion on 5 December.[60]

On 30 December, VTV was fined 15 million Vietnamese Dong and ordered to issue a public correction by the Ministry of Information and Communications for broadcasting wrongful information about Công Phượng's age,[61] the newspaper Thể Thao 24h was also fined 10 million Vietnamese Dong and ordered to issue a public correction.[62]

Vietnam

• AFF Championship

Champion (1): 2018

Vietnam U-23 and Olympic

• Asian Games fourth place (1): 2018
• Southeast Asian Games

Bronze Medal (1): 2015

• AFC U-23 Championship

Runner-up: 2018

Vietnam U-19

• AFF U-19 Youth Championship Runner-up (2): 2013, 2014

• Vietnamese Young Player of the Year: 2015
• Most favorite players: 2017, 2018