Nguyễn Công Phượng is a prominent Vietnamese association football player known for his skills as a forward.
He was born into a large family of 17 children and grew up in poverty, which fueled his passion for football from a young age.
Công Phượng was one of only 14 candidates accepted into the prestigious HAGL – Arsenal JMG Academy out of 7,000 applicants.
Biography
Early Life
Nguyễn Công Phượng was born on January 21, 1995, in Mỹ Sơn, Đô Lương District, Nghệ An Province, Vietnam. He is the fifth child in a large family of 17 children, raised in a poor household. From a young age, Công Phượng showed a keen interest in football, often playing with a makeshift ball made of straw alongside his older brother, Nguyễn Công Khoa, who tragically drowned in 2004 at the age of nine.
Career Development
Công Phượng's formal football training began at the age of 10 when he was introduced to the Đô Lương district sport center. His talent was soon recognized, and he joined the Đô Lương District youth team. Despite an initial setback when he was not accepted into the Sông Lam Nghệ An youth team due to weight requirements, he persevered. In 2007, he successfully joined the HAGL – Arsenal JMG Academy, one of only 14 candidates selected from 7,000 applicants. His skills flourished, leading to opportunities such as training with Arsenal's under-17 team in 2012.
Công Phượng made his mark on the international stage with the Vietnam national under-19 team, where he became the top goal scorer at the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship qualification. He continued to rise through the ranks, representing the Vietnam men's national football team since 2015 and playing for clubs like Hoang Anh Gia Lai F.C. and Mito HollyHock. As a forward, he has become a key player in Vietnamese football, known for his agility and scoring ability.
Legacy
Công Phượng's journey from a poor background to becoming a celebrated footballer is an inspiring story of determination and talent. His early experiences and challenges have shaped him into a resilient athlete, and he continues to be a prominent figure in Vietnamese football, inspiring future generations of players.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Club
As of match played 4 September 2026
International
International goals
U-19
U-22/U-23
Vietnam
Scores and results list Vietnam's goal tally first.
Early career
Công Phượng first started his proper football training at the age of 10 when he was introduced to the Đô Lương district sport center by a local football coach Trương Quang Vinh. In 2006, he played for the Đô Lương District youth team at Nghệ An province's football competition. Impressed Song Lam Nghe An's staff at the competition, Công Phượng was invited into Sông Lam Nghệ An 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. 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 14 candidates who was accepted in to the academy out of about 7 thousand candidates from all over the country in the first selection. In June 2010, Công Phượng and Nguyễn Tuấn Anh were the only two players from HAGL– Arsenal JMG Academy that were invited to a 15 days overseas training program in Cambodia. It was a training program for top players of JMG Academy from all over the globe. 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 English Premier League side Arsenal under-17 team. In the letter, Arsenal's…
Youth
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). 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 7 goals which include a brace against Australia U–19, 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 9 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; 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 2 losses and 1 draw. This is Công Phượng's last tournament with the U–19 side. In March 2015, Công Phượng represented Vietnam…
- Club
- Mito HollyHock (2016–)
- Club
- Hoang Anh Gia Lai F.C. (2015–)
- Club
- Vietnam national under-20 football team (2013–2014)
- Club
- Vietnam national under-23 football team (2015–)
- Club
- Vietnam men's national football team (2015–)
Personal
Công Phượng was born on 21 January 1995 in Mỹ Sơn, Đô Lương District, Nghệ An Province. He is the fifth child out of 17 children of Nguyễn Công Bảy and Nguyễn Thị Hoa; his family was poor when he was growing up. Công Phượng has been interested in football since his childhood. Around the age of 5, he started to play football using a ball made of straw with his 2-year-older brother Nguyễn Công Khoa, who later drowned in 2004 at the age of 9.
Clubs
- Hoang Anh Gia Lai F.C.2015current
- Vietnam men's national football team2015current
- Vietnam national under-23 football team2015current
- Mito HollyHock2016current
- Vietnam national under-20 football team2013–2014
Played together with
- Akihiro HyodoMito HollyHock · 2016
- Akira AndoMito HollyHock · 2020–2020
- Anderson Andrade AntunesMito HollyHock · 2006–2006
- André Luiz de Souza SilvaMito HollyHock · 2007–2008
- Arata WatanabeMito HollyHock
- Atsushi MatsuuraMito HollyHock · 2004–2004
- Boniface NdukaMito HollyHock · 2018–2020
- Cleber Alexandre GomesMito HollyHock · 2000–2000
Daiki MiyaMito HollyHock
Daishi HiramatsuMito HollyHock · 2006–2008- Daisuke IchikawaMito HollyHock · 2012–2012
- Daisuke KimoriMito HollyHock · 2003–2004
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Nguyễn Công Phượng is a Vietnamese professional footballer who plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder for V.League 1 club Đồng Nai City.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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