On the morning of December 23, the organizing committee of the Vietnam Golden Ball 2025 awards, hosted by Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper, officially announced the top five finalists in each category.
Dinh Bac reaches the final shortlist of the Vietnam Golden Ball awards.
In the men’s category of the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball, the nominated players include Hoang Duc, Tien Linh, Quang Hai, Dinh Bac, and goalkeeper Trung Kien.
Among them, the biggest surprise is the inclusion of goalkeeper Trung Kien. While he had notable performances with the U23 Vietnam team, his overall impact at club level with HAGL has not stood out as much as his peers.
The remaining four players are seen as deserving nominees due to their standout contributions both with the national team and at club level. Specifically, during the 2024 ASEAN Cup (concluding in 2025), Hoang Duc, Tien Linh, and Quang Hai played pivotal roles in Vietnam’s championship run, with only Nguyen Xuan Son having a more significant impact.
At the club level, Hoang Duc helped Ninh Binh secure promotion with a perfect record and continued to shine, leading his team to the top of the V-League in the 2025/2026 season.
For Quang Hai, 2025 was also a successful year. He led CAHN to a runner-up finish in the domestic league and reached the final of the Southeast Asian Champions League.
Dinh Bac, a rising star from Nghe An, also had a standout year, playing a crucial role in the U22 Vietnam team’s gold medal victory at the SEA Games. However, from a purely technical standpoint, his chances of winning may be slimmer compared to his more established and consistent senior teammates at both club and national levels.
Huynh Nhu will compete for the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball in the women’s category alongside Van Su, Bich Thuy, Thuy Trang, and Hai Yen.
In the women’s category, although the Vietnam women’s national team failed to defend their SEA Games 33 gold medal, their efforts and performances throughout the year were still impressive. As reflected in the votes, Huynh Nhu will compete against Van Su, Bich Thuy, Thuy Trang, and Hai Yen for the award.
In the category for Best Foreign Player, nominees include Artur and Sebastiao (CAHN), Henrique (Viettel), and Lucao (Hai Phong).
For Best Young Male Player, the competition will be among Hieu Minh, Dinh Bac, and Van Khang. Meanwhile, in the Best Young Female Player category, names like Minh Chuyen, Hoang Van, Minh Anh, and Thuy Linh will vie for the honor.
The gala for the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball awards is scheduled to take place on December 26 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnamnet.vn
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