10 greatest V League top scorers of all-time: A foreigners’ game and Cong Vinh’s pride

As the premier professional football division in Vietnam, a nation celebrated for its commitment to an attacking, beautiful, and dedicated brand of football, it is no surprise that V.League 1 has become a preferred destination for prolific strikers from across the globe. 

From the technical flair of South America and the tactical discipline of Europe to the raw power of Africa, these elite "gunslingers" have gradually carved out their own history and identity within the league. 

Their goal-scoring exploits have not only brought silverware to their clubs but also defined the evolution of the Vietnamese game. So, who are the icons that have defined excellence over the past 2 decades? Let us explore the legendary names and the remarkable numbers behind the V League top scorers in the all-time rankings provided by Nowgoalpro.

V league top scorers of all-time 

10. Timothy Anjembe 

The history of V.League goalscoring begins at the joint-eighth position with Timothy Anjembe, a powerful Nigerian forward known as "The Bull." Playing in Vietnam from 2009 to 2016, Timothy moved to Hoa Phat Ha Noi from the Nigerian club Lobi Stars. 

Throughout his seven-year tenure, he represented six different clubs, including Ha Noi ACB and HAGL, scoring a total of 79 goals. His most explosive season came in 2012 with Ha Noi ACB, where he secured the Golden Boot with 17 goals. 

9. Le Huynh Duc 

Standing at the same rank is the legendary Le Huynh Duc, the first Vietnamese player to play professionally abroad (for Lifan in China). Between 1995 and 2004, playing for Cong An Ho Chi Minh City and later SHB Da Nang, he amassed 79 goals in just 126 appearances. A three-time Vietnamese Golden Ball winner, he retired in 2004 at the age of 32 to transition into a highly successful coaching career.

8. Gonzalo Marronkle 

Moving to the seventh spot, we find two stalwarts of Hanoi FC: Gonzalo Marronkle and the current captain Nguyen Van Quyet, both with 81 goals. Gonzalo, an Argentine striker who arrived from Portugal’s Portimonense in 2009, became a symbol of Hanoi T&T’s dominance. Over eight seasons (2009–2017), he played 138 matches and won three V.League titles (2010, 2013, 2016), winning the Golden Boot in 2013. 

7. Nguyen Van Quyet 

Beside him, Van Quyet, who joined Hanoi from Viettel in 2011, remains the only active player in this bracket. A two-time Vietnamese Golden Ball winner, Quyet has been the heartbeat of the capital team, leading them to five league titles. Before his professional rise, he was a product of the internal Viettel academy. At 34, he continues to lead the line for Hanoi FC, proving that consistency is the hallmark of greatness.

6. Antonio Carlos 

In sixth place is the Brazilian marksman Antonio Carlos with 94 goals. Joining Dong Tam Long An in 2005 from Brazil, he became the spearhead of "The Gach" during their golden era, winning back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006. Over a decade in Vietnam, he also featured for Xuan Thanh Sai Gon and Hai Phong before returning to Brazil. 

5. Nguyen Anh Duc 

The fifth position is occupied by Nguyen Anh Duc, a true icon of Becamex Binh Duong. Joining the "Chelsea of Vietnam" in 2006 from Ngan Hang Dong A, Anh Duc spent nearly his entire career there, scoring 106 goals. He was instrumental in winning four V.League titles and was the league's top scorer in 2017 with 17 goals. Before retiring in 2020 at age 35, he even had a brief stint with HAGL and Long An.

4. Huynh Kesley Alves 

The fourth spot belongs to the naturalized Brazilian Huynh Kesley Alves, who scored 107 goals. Arriving in 2005 at Binh Duong, he immediately won the Golden Boot with 21 goals. Kesley won three league titles and later played for HAGL and Matsubara in Brazil. Remarkably, he briefly came out of retirement at age 41 in 2022 to assist Binh Duong during an injury crisis. 

3. Le Cong Vinh 

In third place is the legendary Le Cong Vinh with 116 goals. Starting at SLNA in 2004, he played for Hanoi T&T and Binh Duong, winning the league in 2015. Cong Vinh also famously played for Leixoes in Portugal and Consadole Sapporo in Japan. He retired in 2016 at age 31 as the national team's all-time leading scorer.

2. Do Merlo 

The runner-up is the Argentine "Aerial King" Do Merlo (Gaston Merlo) with 137 goals. Joining SHB Da Nang in 2009 from Ferro Carril Oeste, he won four Golden Boots (2009, 2010, 2011, 2016) and two league titles. He also played for Nam Dinh and Sai Gon FC before retiring in 2023 at age 38. 

1. Hoang Vu Samson 

Finally, the undisputed king of V.League history is Hoang Vu Samson with 189 goals. Since arriving at Than Quang Ninh in 2007 from Nigeria, Samson has been a goal machine for Dong Thap and especially Hanoi FC, where he won three titles. 

He even had a brief, high-profile move to Atletico Madrid (loaned to Braga) in 2011. Currently still active at age 37 with PVF-CAND, he remains the gold standard for every striker in the country.

Top 10 goal scorers in V.League 1 history:

1. Hoang Vu Samson: 189 goals

2. Do Merlo: 137 goals

3. Le Cong Vinh: 116 goals

4. Huynh Kesley Alves: 107 goals

5. Nguyen Anh Duc: 106 goals

6. Antonio Carlos: 94 goals

7. Gonzalo Marronkle: 81 goals

8. Nguyen Van Quyet: 81 goals

9. Le Huynh Duc: 79 goals

10. Timothy Anjembe: 79 goals

The comprehensive report above by Nowgoalpro.net has identified the 10 greatest V League top scorers of all time, highlighting the incredible legacy left by these athletes. Their stories of perseverance and clinical finishing serve as a benchmark for today's stars like Xuan Son or Tien Linh. 

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