Lê Phạm Thành Long, "small but mighty," is a key asset for coach Kim Sang Sik at the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

At just 1.65 meters with a slender frame, Lê Phạm Thành Long demonstrates that his lack of size does not prevent him from excelling.

In the 3-0 victory over Indonesia, the Công An Hà Nội defensive midfielder was named in the starting lineup by coach Kim Sang Sik, replacing Quang Hải. He repaid the South Korean manager's trust with a quality performance, showcasing excellent control of the midfield and launching impressive attacks and counterattacks.

The 30-year-old midfielder completed 11 out of 12 passes into the opponent's final third (92% accuracy), won 6 out of 9 duels (67%), and assisted Hai Long's goal to make it 2-0 with a perfectly weighted through ball to the left wing for his teammate to run onto and score. As a result, Thành Long earned a rating of 7.9/10, the second highest among Vietnamese players, behind only Hoàng Đức.

Continuing to affirm his talent, Lê Phạm Thành Long once again impressed in the 3-1 win against Cambodia. It is no coincidence that he was rated 9.1/10, second only to Đình Bắc among our players in this match.

Why did Thành Long receive such a high score? In this match, he won all three of his duels (100%), completed 24 out of 29 passes into Cambodia's final third (83% accuracy). Notably, Thành Long displayed keen vision and executed a classy pass that bypassed five Cambodian players, allowing Đình Bắc to break through and score the decisive goal in the 89th minute, securing Vietnam's 3-1 victory.

It happened in the middle of the field. Spotting Đình Bắc up ahead and ready to sprint, Thành Long delivered a lofted pass with just the right weight for his teammate. A ground pass would have been difficult to succeed, as Cambodian players could have intercepted it. But Thành Long chose to chip the ball over. A quick, sensible decision executed with precise technique.

Coach Kim Sang Sik naturally can only be pleased with his student. With Hoàng Đức and Thành Long, he now has the best central midfield pairing for Vietnam at this moment.

Thành Long's presence in the midfield not only strengthens our ability to contest the center of the pitch but also provides a dangerous passer who can create breakthroughs in attacks or transitions.