Vietnam's Golden Ball Awaits SEA Games

07/11/2025 06:52:00 PlaymakerHub

Yesterday, the list of nominees for the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball award was released, with voting taking place from December 9 to December 22, just days after the men's football final at SEA Games 33.

1. Unlike previous years, the national team in 2025 will not participate in any major tournaments except the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. This has resulted in a rather subdued achievement record for the national team, although domestic clubs continue to compete steadily in the V-League and AFC Champions League. Meanwhile, Vietnam's U23 team has won the Southeast Asian championship, secured a place in the U23 Asian Cup final round, and now faces a golden opportunity to shine at SEA Games 33.

For fans, SEA Games is not just a youth tournament but a "stage of faith," where emotions and national pride are heightened to their peak. If the U23 team succeeds and brings home the gold medal, one or more standout players will certainly enter the Golden Ball race directly. Freshness and youthfulness are also what experts and fans expect in the 30th year of this prestigious award.

This year's nominee list includes notable U23 players such as Khuất Văn Khang (Thể Công Viettel), Nguyễn Đình Bắc (Hanoi Police), Trần Trung Kiên (HAGL), Nguyễn Hiểu Minh, and Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn (PVF-CAND Club).

2. The history of the Vietnam Golden Ball shows that SEA Games has often been the "cradle" for many winners of this award. In 2003, Phạm Văn Quyến won the Golden Ball after a brilliant display that helped Vietnam's U23 claim the silver medal at SEA Games 22. Two years later, Phan Văn Tài Em — captain of Vietnam's U23 at SEA Games 23 — was also honored. Lê Công Vinh even secured three Golden Balls while under 23 (2004, 2006, 2007). In the newer generation, Nguyễn Quang Hải (2018) and Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (2021) both reached the top spot after shining brightly in U23 and national teams at SEA Games or related tournaments.

Khuất Văn Khang and Đình Bắc are two of five U23 players nominated for the 2025 Golden Ball.

These examples illustrate that SEA Games has always been a natural launchpad for young stars to become icons of Vietnamese football. When the excitement of victory is fresh, the image of young heroes often leaves a strong impression on experts, especially journalists who hold the voting ballots.

With the voting period coinciding with SEA Games, a decisive goal, a symbolic save, or a brilliant performance can become a crucial highlight. In Vietnam, emotions and team achievements are closely tied to individual awards. If the U23 team wins gold, it will be difficult for anyone to compete with the star considered the "soul" of the team.

3.The current U23 generation includes many young players who have matured in the V-League, gained international experience, and received professional training. They represent the transitional generation between the past and the future. A standout player at SEA Games 33 — even if only in their early twenties — could easily continue the legacy of Quang Hải or Hoàng Đức, becoming the new face of Vietnamese football.

In the context of 2025, with no major tournaments for the national team, SEA Games becomes the "final" that decides the ranking of stars. Therefore, the 2025 Golden Ball may not come from familiar national team names, but from a U23 player burning with ambition to conquer. SEA Games 33 will be a significant test of the young generation's resilience, form, and influence.

If Vietnam's U23 team performs well at SEA Games 33, the Golden Ball award will have even greater significance, as it will represent the mark of a new generation inheriting the legacy and the desire to rise.

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