Vietnam Golden Ball turns 30: Journey to honor national football

On November 6, the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam Golden Ball Award held a press conference to announce the launch of the 2025 voting season - an event marking the 30th anniversary of the prestigious award honoring the best football players in the country.

The 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball voting season has officially kicked off. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

Speaking at the press conference, journalist Nguyen Khac Van, Acting Editor-in-Chief of Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper and Head of the Award Organizing Committee, emphasized that the Vietnam Golden Ball over the past three decades has always maintained its prestige thanks to a fair and transparent voting process, with the participation of experts, coaches and sports journalists across the country. This is not only an award to honor talent but also to spread humanistic values ​​and the spirit of overcoming difficulties in football life.

Journalist Nguyen Khac Van, Acting Editor-in-Chief of Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper, Head of the Award Organizing Committee, spoke. (Photo: BTC)

Representing the Vietnam Football Federation, Vice President Tran Anh Tu sent congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the Award, and reviewed the brilliant milestones of Vietnamese football in 2025 - from the moment Nguyen Hai Long scored the decisive goal against Thailand in the 2024 ASEAN Cup final, to the journey of U23 Vietnam successfully defending the Southeast Asian championship and winning a ticket to the 2026 AFC U23 Championship Finals.

Vice President Tran Anh Tu emphasized that, up to this point, five Vietnamese teams have qualified for the Asian finals - a rare achievement in the region.

The football picture in 2025 is assessed quite comprehensively. The men's team maintains its form in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers; the women's team aims for the sixth consecutive SEA Games Gold Medal; men's and women's futsal prepare for the journey to compete for tickets to the 2026 Futsal World Cup. The development of the domestic professional league system continues to create a rich source of nominations for this year's voting season.

Vice President of Vietnam Football Federation Tran Anh Tu speaks at the press conference. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

The Vietnam Golden Ball Awards 2025 include the following categories: Golden, Silver, Bronze Ball for men, women and futsal; Outstanding young male and female player; Outstanding foreign player; Player loved by the audience; Dedication Award.

The nomination list in this year's categories includes many outstanding faces such as: Nguyen Hai Long, Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Dinh Bac, Tien Linh, Dang Van Lam in the men's category; Huynh Nhu, Thanh Nha, Kim Thanh, Truc Huong, Bich Thuy in the women's category; and futsal stars such as Chau Doan Phat, Nguyen Thinh Phat, Nhan Gia Hung.

Delegates participating in the voting include: Leaders of the sports industry; Coaches/team captains; experts who have time to closely follow Vietnamese football activities and sports journalists. The Most Favorite Player category will be voted online by Vietnamese football fans.

The Vietnam Golden Ball Awards 2025 ceremony is expected to take place next December in Ho Chi Minh City.

List of nominations

- Men's category includes: Truong Tien Anh (1999, The Cong Viettel); Nguyen Dinh Bac (2004, Hanoi Police); Nguyen Thanh Chung (1997, Hanoi); Bui Tien Dung (1995, The Cong Viettel); Nguyen Hoang Duc (1998, Ninh Binh); Nguyen Filip (1992, Hanoi Police); Nguyen Quang Hai (1997, Hanoi Police); Pham Tuan Hai (1998, Hanoi); Trieu Viet Hung (1997, Hai Phong); Khuat Van Khang (2003, The Cong Viettel); Tran Trung Kien (2003, Hoang Anh Gia Lai); Dang Van Lam (1993, Ninh Binh); Nguyen Tien Linh (1997, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City/Ho Chi Minh City Police); Nguyen Hai Long (2000, Hanoi); Tran Nguyen Manh (1991, Nam Dinh Green Steel); Nguyen Hieu Minh (2004, PVF-CAND); Nguyen Thanh Nhan (2003, PVF-CAND); Vu Van Thanh (1996, Hanoi Police); Lam Ti Phong (1996, Nam Dinh Green Steel); Nguyen Dinh Trieu (1991, Hai Phong); Nguyen Van Vi (1998, Nam Dinh Green Steel); Cao Pendant Quang Vinh (1997, Hanoi Police); Do Duy Manh (1996, Hanoi).

- Female category includes: Khong Thi Hang (1993, Vietnam National Coal and Minerals); Nguyen Thi Truc Huong (2000, Vietnam National Coal and Minerals); Chuong Thi Kieu (1995, Ho Chi Minh City); Hoang Thi Loan (1995, Hanoi); Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (2001, Hanoi); Huynh Nhu (1991, Ho Chi Minh City); Ngan Thi Van Su (2001, Hanoi); Tran Thi Thu Thao (1993, Ho Chi Minh City); Tran Thi Kim Thanh (1993, Thai Nguyen T&T); Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (1994, Thai Nguyen T&T); Tran Thi Thuy Trang (1988, Ho Chi Minh City); Nguyen Thi Van (1997, Vietnam National Coal and Minerals); Pham Hai Yen (1994, Hanoi).

- Futsal category includes: Vu Ngoc Anh (2004, Thai Son Bac); Nguyen Manh Dung (1997, Thai Son Nam); Nguyen Da Hai (2005, Thai Son Bac); Nhan Gia Hung (2002, Thai Son Nam); Tran Quang Nguyen (2006, Thai Son Bac); Chau Doan Phat (1999, Thai Son Nam); Nguyen Thinh Phat (1997, Thai Son Nam); Tu Minh Quang (1998, Thai Son Bac); Pham Van Tu (1997, Thai Son Bac); Dinh Cong Vien (2002, Thai Son Nam).

- The category of outstanding foreign players includes: Leonardo Artur (Brazil, 1995, Hanoi Police); Caio Cesar (Brazil, 1995, Nam Dinh Blue Steel); Patrik Le Giang (Slovakia/Vietnam, 1992, Ho Chi Minh City Police); Pedro Henrique (Brazil, 1997, The Cong Viettel); Lucao (Brazil, 1991, Hai Phong/The Cong Viettel); Adou Minh (France/Vietnam, 1997, Ha Tinh/Hanoi Police); Lucas Ribamar (Brazil, 1997, Thanh Hoa); Alan Sebastiao (Brazil, 1998, Hanoi Police).

- The young male player category includes: Nguyen Dinh Bac (2004, Hanoi Police); Cao Van Binh (2005, Song Lam Nghe An); Nguyen Hieu Minh (2004, PVF-CAND); Nguyen Ngoc My (2004, Thanh Hoa); Nguyen Le Phat (2007, PVF/Ninh Binh); Nguyen Cong Phuong (2006, The Cong Viettel); Le Van Thuan (2006, Thanh Hoa).

- The young female player category includes: Nguyen Thi Minh Anh (2009, Phong Phu Ha Nam); Ngoc Minh Chuyen (2004, Thai Nguyen T&T); Ngan Thi Thanh Hieu (2007, Phong Phu Ha Nam); Tran Nhat Lan (2004, Vietnam Coal and Minerals); Ta Thi Hong Minh (2008, Phong Phu Ha Nam); Nguyen Ngo Thao Nguyen (2008, Thai Nguyen T&T); Le Thi Thu (2007, Phong Phu Ha Nam); Luu Hoang Van (2006, Phong Phu Ha Nam); Le Hong Yeu (2007, Phong Phu Ha Nam).

HUY AN

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