What a pity for Nguyen Dinh Bac!

VHO - Despite having a successful 2025 with the U23/U22 national team and Hanoi Police Club, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac was still unable to win the most prestigious individual award at the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball Awards.

The fact that the striker born in 2004 only won the Silver Ball leaves many fans disappointed, especially when looking back at his explosive year playing for both the national youth teams and his club.

The imprint of Dinh Bac

2025 can be considered a pivotal year in Dinh Bac's career. At the national team level, he was one of the most outstanding players of the Vietnam U23 team that won the Southeast Asian U23 Championship – a tournament where the striker born in 2004 was also honored as "Best Player". Dinh Bac was also a key factor in helping the Vietnam U23 team qualify for the 2026 Asian Championship Finals.

Dinh Bac wins the 2025 Vietnamese Silver Ball award.

Beyond contributing with goals and assists, Dinh Bac also demonstrates leadership in the attack with his aggressive, fast-paced playing style and tireless fighting spirit.

But that wasn't all; the young striker continued to make a strong impression at the 33rd SEA Games, winning the prestigious gold medal with the Vietnam U22 team.

In his journey to conquer the regional championship, Dinh Bac wasn't always the one scoring the decisive goals, but he was always present at the most crucial moments, creating constant pressure on the opposing defense.

His energetic playing style and willingness to sacrifice for the team have made the striker from Nghe An an indispensable player in coach Kim Sang-sik's tactical scheme.

At the club level, Dinh Bac also had a memorable season playing for Hanoi Police FC. Competing in the V.League and other domestic competitions, he gradually established himself in the starting lineup, competing on equal footing with many experienced senior players.

Dinh Bac had a breakout year in 2025 playing for both the national youth teams and his club.

Dinh Bac made a significant contribution to Hanoi Police FC's double title win of the National Cup and National Super Cup with 8 goals and 4 assists.

Having to constantly work hard at the club while also shouldering responsibilities in the youth national teams has not diminished this striker's performance; on the contrary, it has helped him accumulate the necessary competitive spirit and tenacity of a great player.

Therefore, when the 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball award was announced, many believed that Dinh Bac had a real chance to win. However, the final result named another candidate, while Dinh Bac finished with the Silver Ball.

It's clearly a disappointment, not only for the player himself but also for those who have followed his relentless efforts throughout the year.

Motivation to strive

From another perspective, the Silver Ball is not a failure, but a well-deserved recognition of Dinh Bac's outstanding contributions, especially considering his young age.

At the age of 21, consistently being among the top contenders for major individual awards in Vietnamese football shows that this striker is on the right track. Compared to many of his seniors, Dinh Bac even has the advantage of more time to improve himself, hone his skills, and accumulate more titles.

The 21-year-old player will strive even harder in the future.

More importantly, not yet winning the Ballon d'Or could become a great motivation for Dinh Bac to continue striving. In football, many stars have finished second multiple times before reaching the pinnacle of success.

The 2025 Silver Ball award can be seen as a reminder that Dinh Bac still has a long way to go, and he needs to work harder to break through, both professionally and in terms of his influence in big matches.

With the foundation he has built in 2025, Dinh Bac has every right to dream of bigger goals: a regular starting spot in the national team, collective titles at his club, and of course, the Vietnamese Golden Ball in the not-too-distant future.

The important thing is that the 21-year-old striker maintains his ambition, humility, and progressive spirit – qualities that have shaped Dinh Bac's image in the eyes of experts and fans.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/tiec-cho-nguyen-dinh-bac-192933.html