ASEAN Championship 2026 Top 10 Players: The Performers Who Shaped the Road to the Final

Thailand and Vietnam have taken different routes to Saturday’s ASEAN Championship final, but both arrive in Bangkok carrying the influence of players who have changed matches through goals, saves, movement, defensive discipline and decisions under pressure.

Vietnam reached the final after scoring 17 goals and conceding only once. Thailand produced 14 goals, kept four clean sheets and survived a difficult semifinal return against Singapore. Their meeting at Rajamangala National Stadium on August 22 will bring several of the tournament’s strongest individual performers onto the same field.

The ranking below considers goals and assists alongside knockout impact, defensive contribution, consistency and importance to team results. It also recognizes standout players whose teams have already left the competition.

TL;DR

• Nguyễn Xuân Son and Nguyễn Đình Bắc lead the scoring chart with five goals each.
• Teerasak Poeiphimai’s semifinal double gave Thailand the advantage it needed against Singapore.
• Ilhan Fandi scored four times and repeatedly delivered when Singapore faced elimination.
• Vietnam have conceded once and kept five clean sheets.
• Malaysia’s Pavithran Gunalan contributed one goal and two assists.
• Thailand host Vietnam in the first leg of the final on August 22 before the return in Hanoi on August 26.

ASEAN Championship 2026 Top Performers at a Glance

Rank	Player	Team	Key contribution
1	Nguyễn Xuân Son	Vietnam	Five goals, including three across the Malaysia semifinal
2	Nguyễn Đình Bắc	Vietnam	Five goals, two multi-goal performances
3	Teerasak Poeiphimai	Thailand	Four goals, including a semifinal first-leg double
4	Ilhan Fandi	Singapore	Four goals and several decisive late interventions
5	Patrik Lê Giang	Vietnam	Key goalkeeper in a defense with five clean sheets
6	Kakana Khamyok	Thailand	Three goals, including a semifinal penalty
7	Win Naing Tun	Myanmar	Four goals and a hat trick against Laos
8	Mitch Baker	Indonesia	Four goals, including a hat trick against Cambodia
9	Pavithran Gunalan	Malaysia	One goal, two assists and strong two-way contribution
10	Ubaidullah Shamsul	Malaysia	30 clearances, eight interceptions and 92.1% passing accuracy

Statistics reflect the tournament through the semifinals and come from the official ASEAN Hyundai Cup statistics and final factsheet.

1. Nguyễn Xuân Son, Vietnam

Nguyễn Xuân Son enters the final as the tournament’s most dangerous momentum-changing player.

He scored the opening goal in Vietnam’s 2-0 semifinal victory in Kuala Lumpur, directing a diving header past Malaysia shortly before halftime. His influence grew in the return leg. Introduced from the bench after 59 minutes, Xuân Son scored three minutes later and struck again in the 89th minute.

Those goals completed a 4-0 aggregate victory over Malaysia and took him level at the top of the scoring chart with five. Thailand now face a forward who can alter a match from the starting lineup or the bench.

2. Nguyễn Đình Bắc, Vietnam

Nguyễn Đình Bắc announced himself with a hat trick during Vietnam’s 7-0 opening victory over Timor-Leste. He later scored twice against Cambodia, giving him five goals before the final.

His movement stretches defensive lines and creates room for Vietnam’s other attackers. Xuân Son offers power and penalty-area presence, while Đình Bắc threatens through acceleration, positioning and early runs behind defenders.

Vietnam’s ability to deploy both leading scorers gives Thailand a problem that extends beyond marking one striker.

3. Teerasak Poeiphimai, Thailand

Teerasak delivered his most important performance when Thailand needed control away from home.

His goals in the 14th and 26th minutes powered the War Elephants to a 3-1 semifinal first-leg victory over Singapore. That two-goal cushion eventually proved decisive after Thailand lost the return leg 2-1.

With four tournament goals, Teerasak combines efficient finishing with intelligent movement between center backs. Vietnam’s defense has allowed only one goal, making his timing inside the area especially important on Saturday.

4. Ilhan Fandi, Singapore

Few players carried more responsibility for their team’s survival than Ilhan Fandi.

His acrobatic stoppage-time winner rescued Singapore against Cambodia. He scored the equalizer against Indonesia that secured semifinal qualification and then came off the bench to find the net against Thailand in the first leg.

Ilhan finished with four goals and helped Singapore win the semifinal return in Bangkok, even though the Lions lost 4-3 on aggregate. The second-leg victory over Thailand provided another reminder of his value in difficult match situations.

5. Patrik Lê Giang, Vietnam

Vietnam’s 17 goals have attracted attention, but its defensive record may hold greater importance in the final. The defending champions have conceded once and kept five clean sheets.

Patrik Lê Giang played a central role in that control. His saves in the semifinal first leg against Malaysia prevented the hosts from changing the tie while the contest remained close.

Thailand should create more opportunities than Malaysia managed. Lê Giang’s handling, positioning and composure under crosses could therefore decide the first leg.

6. Kakana Khamyok, Thailand

Kakana Khamyok has given Thailand goals from midfield and another way to attack packed defenses.

He scored twice in the 5-0 victory over Laos and converted the penalty that briefly settled Thailand during the semifinal return against Singapore. His three tournament goals place him behind Teerasak among Thailand’s scorers.

Kakana’s late movement will test Vietnam’s midfield tracking. If the visitors concentrate too heavily on Thailand’s center forward, he can attack the space that opens behind.

7. Win Naing Tun, Myanmar

Myanmar missed the semifinals, but Win Naing Tun produced one of the tournament’s most memorable individual displays.

His hat trick drove Myanmar to a 7-2 victory over Laos and kept their qualification hopes alive until the final group match. He finished with four goals, showing direct running, intelligent positioning and calm finishing.

Myanmar’s early exit reduces his visibility, but his attacking output earns him a place among the competition’s best.

8. Mitch Baker, Indonesia

Mitch Baker also scored four times despite Indonesia falling short of the knockout stage.

His hat trick against Cambodia powered a 5-1 victory and showed how dangerous he could become when Indonesia moved the ball quickly into attacking areas. Baker supplied physical presence, finishing and a reliable central target.

Indonesia’s 61.7% average possession led the tournament, yet control did not produce semifinal qualification. Baker remained their clearest source of end product.

9. Pavithran Gunalan, Malaysia

Pavithran contributed across multiple phases. He recorded one goal, two assists, six key passes and seven successful dribbles during Malaysia’s campaign.

His most important goal secured the 1-0 victory over the Philippines that sent Malaysia into the semifinals. He also worked defensively, competing in tackles and helping Malaysia progress the ball from wide areas.

That combination of creativity and responsibility makes his contribution more valuable than the scoring total suggests.

10. Ubaidullah Shamsul, Malaysia

Ubaidullah Shamsul represents the defensive work that conventional rankings often overlook.

The Malaysian defender completed 30 clearances, made eight interceptions and won six tackles across six full matches. He also completed 385 passes at 92.1%, demonstrating his importance in possession as well as without the ball.

Malaysia conceded four times in the semifinals, but Ubaidullah’s individual workload and distribution remained among the tournament’s strongest defensive performances.

Which Players Could Decide Thailand vs Vietnam?

The first leg brings together the tournament’s two highest-scoring teams and its two strongest defenses. Vietnam have recorded 39 shots on target, scored 17 goals and conceded once. Thailand have produced 31 shots on target, scored 14 and allowed three.

The opening goal carries unusual importance. According to the official final factsheet, the team scoring first has lifted the trophy in 14 of the competition’s previous 15 finals.

Thailand possess home advantage, Teerasak’s penalty-area movement and Kakana’s midfield threat. Vietnam arrive with the deeper attacking record, five clean sheets and two players level at the top of the scoring chart.

Thailand coach Anthony Hudson has publicly described Vietnam as the favorite because of its experience and preparation. The pressure, however, will shift quickly if the War Elephants score first at Rajamangala. Supporters can revisit the rivalry’s wider history through The Sports Encounter’s analysis of the 2026 semifinalists and previous champions and follow continuing coverage through the soccer news hub.

The final will feature several established names, but its outcome may depend on which leading performer finds another decisive moment before the tie moves to Hanoi.