The shortlist for the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball, announced by Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper on the morning of December 23, brought some regrets as the player who scored the decisive goal for Vietnam U22 at SEA Games 33, Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn, was absent.
"The hero" of Vietnam U22 atSEA Games 33was not included in the most notable accolade, the Top 5 Male Golden Ball nominees, while two young teammates, Đình Bắc and Trung Kiên, were selected alongside veterans like Quang Hải, Hoàng Đức, and Tiến Linh.
For Thanh Nhàn, missing out on the most prestigious competition of the year might be a disadvantage, but it is also fitting considering his long journey throughout 2025 when he was compared with many colleagues with more achievements.
From another perspective, this can serve as a necessary motivation for the Tây Ninh native to continue growing and conquer bigger milestones in the future.