10 best AFF U23 Championship top scorers: Naturalized Indonesian star dominate the list

The AFF U23 Championship, also known as the ASEAN U-23 Championship, was first held in 2005 in Thailand for Southeast Asian U23 national teams. After that edition, the tournament was discontinued for 14 years before being revived in 2019 under the name AFF U22 Youth Championship, with the aim of preparing teams for the SEA Games and the AFC U23 Asian Cup.

By 2025, the tournament had been held five times, with Vietnam holding the record for the most titles, winning the championship three times. In this article, nowgoalmobi.net reviews the AFF U23 Championship top scorers.

Who is the best AFF U23 Championship top scorer in history?

Jens Raven is the all-time top scorer of the AFF U23 Championship, having scored seven goals at the 2025 tournament. In the group stage match against Brunei, he netted six goals to help Indonesia secure an 8-0 victory. He then added another goal in the semi-final against Thailand U23, sending Indonesia to the final. However, they narrowly lost 0-1 to Vietnam U23 in the final.

Raven is a naturalized striker, born in the Netherlands and representing Indonesia at international level. Standing at 1.89 meters, he has a clear physical advantage over many defenders in the region, especially in aerial duels. With his profile and finishing ability, he is expected to become one of the most notable strikers in Southeast Asian football in the coming years.

AFF U23 Championship top scorers list

Second on the list is Dinh Xuan Tien of Vietnam U23. He is one of the few players to have featured in two AFF U23 tournaments, in 2022 and 2023. In the 2022 edition, despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he still managed to score one goal and provide one assist. His standout performance came in 2023, when he scored three goals: one against Laos U23 in the group stage and a brace against Malaysia U23 in the semi-finals. His contributions played an important role in Vietnam U23’s 4-1 semi-final victory and their successful title defense.

Next is Yotsakon Burapha, a highly regarded young Thai talent born in 2005. He is considered one of Thailand’s brightest prospects and recently impressed at the 33rd SEA Games. Burapha is also one of the rare players to participate in two consecutive AFF U23 tournaments, from 2023 to 2025. Across those editions, he scored a total of three goals, helping Thailand progress deep into the competition. His main strengths are his physical presence and versatility, as he can operate both as a central striker and on the wing.

Another Thai name on the list is Saringkan Promsupa, whose case is particularly notable because he is a central defender rather than a forward. All three of his goals came at the 2019 AFF U23 Championship: two in the group stage against Timor-Leste and the Philippines, and one in the final against Indonesia U23. That decisive goal helped Thailand U23 defeat Indonesia 2-1 and claim the championship.

From Indonesia, Marinus Wanewar was one of the key figures in their title-winning campaign. He scored three goals in the group stage to help Indonesia reach the semi-finals, then netted the equalizer in the final, paving the way for Indonesia’s first-ever AFF U23 Championship title in 2019. As a striker, Wanewar combined strong physical attributes with good ball control and finishing in tight spaces. However, recurring injuries later had a significant impact on his career and limited his long-term development.

Another Vietnamese striker on the list is Tran Danh Trung, who also made his mark at the 2019 AFF U23 Championship. He finished as a joint top scorer with Promsupa and Wanewar, scoring all three of his goals in the group stage. Although Vietnam U23 only finished third that year, Danh Trung stood out with his calm finishing and positional awareness. His career has since seen ups and downs, including a training stint in Japan, before returning to Vietnam, where he currently plays for The Cong - Viettel.

AFF U23 Championship top scorers list

1. Jens Raven - Indonesia U23 (7 goals)

2. Dinh Xuan Tien - Vietnam U23 (4 goals)

3. Yotsakon Burapha - Thailand U23 (3 goals)

4. Saringkan Promsupa - Thailand U22 (3 goals)

5. Marinus Wanewar - Indonesia U22 (3 goals)

6. Tran Danh Trung - Vietnam U22 (3 goals)

7. Rotana Sor - Cambodia U23 (3 goals)

8. Teerasak Poeiphimai - Thailand U23 (3 goals)

9. Alif Ikmalrizal - Malaysia U23 (3 goals)

10. Fergus Tierney - Malaysia U23 (3 goals)

11. Otu Banatao - Philippines U23 (3 goals)

This article from NowGoal Mobi has reviewed the AFF U23 Championship top scorers. All statistics are updated through the end of the 2025 tournament and may change as future editions are played. For more football schedule, follow us here.