For the first time in history, Malaysian twins might both play for the national team against Vietnam?

Declan Lambert and Ryan Lambert twins are facing the opportunity to play together for the Malaysian national team in the match against the Vietnamese national team.

An interesting story is drawing attention ahead of the match between the Malaysian national team and the Vietnamese national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers is the possibility of twin brothers Declan Lambert and Ryan Lambert both appearing in the starting lineup. If this happens, it will be a rare moment in Malaysian football history.

Both 28-year-old players have traveled with the Malaysian national team to Vietnam since the weekend and are actively training to compete for positions. While Declan Lambert has already played 5 times for the national team, Ryan – a midfielder – is still striving to impress the coaching staff to seek an opportunity to play from the start.

Speaking before the match, Declan did not hide his ambition to play alongside his brother in an international match. However, he also acknowledged that competition pressure is very high in Malaysia's current squad. "The competition is very fierce. This is a very strong group of players, especially in my position," Declan said. "You have to perform and try your best during training to impress the coaches."

This versatile defender possesses extensive playing experience, having played about 140 matches for clubs in Australia, the Netherlands, and Malaysia. Specifically in the M-League, he has played over 60 matches, demonstrating stability and perseverance in his career. "I think I've played quite well. I've performed well, that's a positive thing and I need to try to maintain this form," Declan said.

Currently, Declan is playing for Kuala Lumpur City FC on loan from Johor Darul Ta'zim and contributing to the team's aim to compete for the top positions in the Malaysian Super League. "This is a new experience, competing for the second position. It's great, but there is also added pressure," he said.

Although the match against Vietnam now only carries procedural significance after Malaysia was stripped of results by AFC for violating player regulations, Declan still affirmed that the entire team will play with the highest spirit. "This is a difficult match, obviously Malaysia has been eliminated but this is still an important match for us," Declan added. "Just to prove that we can still compete to show our pride as Malaysians."