Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai. (Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn)

According to the AFC, Hai symbolizes modern Vietnamese football. Hai and his Hanoi FC teammates made history when they finished second in the AFC Cup’s Inter-zonal Final last October.

The “Break The Chain” campaign encourages people to follow hygiene guidelines set out by the World Health Organization to slow the spread of COVID-19.

In a campaign video, Hai says: “Everyone should avoid gathering in crowded places, wear masks, and wash your hands regularly to protect yourself.”

The campaign is attracting millions of interactions with people around the world. It is hoped that this will make people understand the necessity of taking preventive steps to halt the pandemic.

Other Asian icons in the AFC’s campaign are Iranian referee AlirezaFaghani, Indian women's football team captain Bala Devi, Chinese striker Wang Shanshan, and Thailand head coach Nishino Akira.