Vietnamese midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải (right). — Photo laodong.vn

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải has been unexpectedly named among the 500 most important footballers in the world by football publication World Soccer.

Hải features alongside world stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Neymar of Brazil, Sergio Ramos of Spain and Erling Haaland of Norway.

The article states: “All Vietnamese fans are wondering why one of the best attacking midfielders in Asia has not yet moved to Europe, and where he will end up when he does eventually go.”

Hải is the only Vietnamese player in this list. He does not have a high transfer value but is considered a great talent of Vietnamese football.

Hải, 23, has resonated throughout Asia by helping U23 Việt Nam to be the runners-up at the AFC U23 Championship 2018 and winning the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 as well as SEA Games 2019.

Other Southeast Asia players to make the list are, Chanathip Songkrasin of Thailand, Neil Etheridge of the Philippines.

World Soccer is a well-known football publication from the UK that was founded in 1960. The magazine regularly awards titles to the world’s leading players, coaches, referees, and best teams. — VNS