Winning the SEA Games Gold Medal but not the MVP, Vietnamese National Team Star Speaks Out for Fairness

After placing third in the 2025 Vietnam Women's Golden Ball award, Trần Thị Thùy Trang drew attention by sharing a post suggesting that her year-long efforts were met with unfairness.

The 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball Award Ceremony Concludes with the female category results announced as Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy winning the Golden Ball, Phạm Hải Yến receiving the Silver Ball, and Trần Thị Thùy Trang ranking third with the Bronze Ball. However, Thùy Trang’s reaction after the ceremony sparked widespread debate among the public.

Just minutes after the ceremony ended, Trần Thị Thùy Trang posted a status on her personal page: “One year of effort and hard work exchanged for... injustice. Thank you for everything.”

The post quickly spread widely, attracting mixed reactions from fans. Shortly afterward, the midfielder born in 1988 edited the content to: “One year of effort and hard work rewarded with... the Bronze Ball. Thank you for everything.” However, her initial reaction rapidly became the center of controversy.

In 2025, Trần Thị Thùy Trang made several remarkable professional achievements. She and the Vietnam women's futsal team won the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games, making her the only player in Vietnamese football history to win SEA Games gold medals in both 11-a-side football and futsal. During this tournament, Thùy Trang scored in the opening match against Indonesia and again in the final, helping the team secure the championship.

At the club level, Thùy Trang remained a key player for Ho Chi Minh City women's club. The team won the national championship in October 2025, and Thùy Trang was named the tournament’s best female player. Afterwards, she participated with the club in the 2025-2026 AFC Women's Champions League, reaching the quarterfinals, marking a continuous season competing both domestically and continentally.

Nevertheless, the 2025 Women's Golden Ball results reflected the voting council’s decision based on an overall assessment of professional criteria. Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy and Phạm Hải Yến both had outstanding contributions during the year, placing them ahead of Trần Thị Thùy Trang in the final ranking.

Therefore, Trần Thị Thùy Trang’s reaction is viewed as a personal perspective following the announcement of the awards. Although she did not make an official statement at the ceremony, her brief social media post sparked extensive discussions about how achievements are recognized and how players feel after a long and intense season.