Vietnamese football star Van Quyet has been honored by FIFA as he opens up about his decision to retire from the national team after 60 caps.

The official FIFA World Cup Facebook page posted a tribute to Van Quyet, praising him with the words: “Class is permanent,” along with striking images of the striker in his Vietnam national team jersey.

In addition to FIFA’s recognition, the ASEAN Football fan page also honored Van Quyet. Many Southeast Asian fans expressed their surprise and respect for the decision made by the Hanoi FC captain.

Speaking about his retirement, Van Quyet reflected: “I regret not securing a victory against India. Vietnam didn’t perform well. Coming on in the final minutes, I gave my all. No matter how much time I get on the pitch, I always play to the best of my ability, but there are inevitable errors when playing with younger teammates and under a new tactical system.

“I have experience and always want to score for the national team, but I’m also ready to create opportunities for my teammates. I had hoped to compete in more major tournaments, but my physical condition no longer allows it.”

Van Quyet admitted he was surprised to be called up for this training camp and to play in front of the fans once more. He sent his best wishes to the Vietnamese national team and their supporters: “I hope Vietnam plays well, and the younger players quickly adapt. I’ll always stand by them, no matter the role. Over the past 18 years, I’ve worked tirelessly, and I hope Vietnamese football continues to grow, with the national team becoming stronger.”

Van Quyet played 60 matches for Vietnam, scoring 16 goals. His first goal for the national team came against Macau on June 29, 2011, during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

The striker from Thach That, Hanoi, participated in five AFF Cups (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022), winning the championship in 2018. He also helped lead Vietnam’s Olympic team to the semifinals of the 2018 Asian Games.

At the club level, Van Quyet has been a key player for Hanoi FC for many years, winning multiple V-League titles, National Cups, and individual honors, including the Best Player award, top-scoring domestic player titles, and two Vietnam Golden Ball awards.

Dai Nam