Van Hieu (first from left) is among top 5 best players at FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021 after a series of group matches (Photo: FIFA)

According to FIFA, Van Hieu had never even played the sport when the last FIFA Futsal World Cup was taking place. It noted that he first took up the game in 2018 and became a Vietnamese futsal player just 12 months later before dazzling at the ongoing tournament in Lithuania.

“And the winger who looks like a schoolboy had old pros feeling their age on Matchday 5. Van Hieu thwarted a Panama attack with an excellent tackle inside his own half, whizzed the length of the court, shrugged off two challenges, rounded the goalkeeper and cut the ball from an acute angle,” says FIFA.

The website also quoted Vietnamese coach Pham Minh Giang as saying that Van Hieu represents a huge talent for Vietnamese futsal and is a highly-promising player.

Rounding off the list of FIFA’s top 5 are Youssef Jouad of Morocco, Leozinho of Brazil, Khusniddin Nishonov of Uzbekistan, and Zicky of Portugal.

Vietnam have cruised into the knock-out stage and are scheduled to take on Russia on September 22.

Source: VOV

Vietnam storm into FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021 knock-outs

Vietnam cruise into the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021 knock-out stage on September 20 after their 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in their Group D match of the ongoing FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021 in Lithuania.