Đình Bắc narrowly missed out on the Golden Ball: A regrettable low point

Đình Bắc coming in second place at the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball award is a disappointment considering his outstanding performance throughout the year.

The 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball Gala concluded with the top honor awarded to Nguyễn Hoàng Đức. However, as soon as Nguyễn Đình Bắc’s name was announced as the Silver Ball winner, a wave of debate erupted. Many experts and fans felt regretful because, judging by both individual and team achievements in 2025, the 2004-born striker fully deserved the brighter golden accolade.

Looking back over the past 365 days, Đình Bắc has had an unprecedented year at the youth level. He was the key player in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship victory, earning the "Best Player of the Tournament" award. During the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, Bắc continued to lead Vietnam to qualify for the final round for the sixth consecutive time.

The highlight was SEA Games 33, where Đình Bắc scored 3 goals, provided 2 assists, and set a record by being named Man of the Match (MVP) three times in a row, directly securing the prestigious gold medal. Compared to Hoàng Đức, who had a quieter year at the national team levels, Đình Bắc’s influence on the national team’s play and results was overwhelmingly dominant.

Not only in the national team, but at Hanoi Police FC, Đình Bắc also proved he is unrivaled beyond youth competitions. Amid a strong lineup of foreign players, he still earned the full trust of coach Mano Polking to shine in the AFC Champions League Two and the National Super Cup, playing a major role in winning the 2024/25 National Cup title.

Meanwhile, although Hoàng Đức maintained his class, playing in the First Division with Ninh Bình seemed a significant drawback when compared in terms of intensity and competitiveness against what Đình Bắc demonstrated.

The reason Đình Bắc only received the Silver Ball may be due to a tendency to favor more experienced senior players with greater national team achievements over youth players by the voters. However, with a "golden" record from team to individual, domestic to continental levels, Đình Bắc’s absence from the top podium tonight leaves a thoughtful silence.