Unprecedented: Hoàng Đức honored twice at the Vietnam Golden Ball Awards

Hoàng Đức created a historic moment in Vietnamese football by securing two major titles at the same time, accomplishing an unprecedented achievement.

The 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball Awards Gala on the evening of December 26 at Ben Thanh Theater concluded with a special milestone named after Nguyễn Hoàng Đức. The midfielder born in 1998 made history as the first Vietnamese player to win both the Golden Ball and the title of “Most Favorite Player.”

The 2025 Golden Ball marked the third time Hoàng Đức reached the pinnacle of his career, following his wins in 2021 and 2023. Although not particularly outstanding with the national team, he left a strong impression at club level, being a key player who helped Ninh Bình gain promotion and lead the V-League in the 2025-2026 season.

A special highlight of this year's Gala came from the category “Most Favorite Player,” an award decided entirely by fan votes that returned after an 8-year hiatus (In 2017, Công Phượng was the winner). With 2,045 votes, Hoàng Đức surpassed many prominent names to claim this award, regarded as “The Golden Ball in the hearts of fans.”This affirmed his unique status not only on the pitch but also in the hearts of the audience.

The return of online voting allowed fans to directly participate in an award system traditionally decided by experts. In this context, Hoàng Đức’s victory demonstrated a rare blend of professional merit and public emotion, something not every star manages to achieve.

If the Golden Ball measures class, then the Most Favorite Player title reflects a player's popularity and influence. Hoàng Đức embodies both qualities. His calm and effective playing style combined with a professional image has earned him enduring trust and affection, even during less media-highlighted periods.

The “Golden Ball double” achievement, in both professional and fan-voted categories, places Hoàng Đức in a unique position in the award's history. This is not just a personal accolade but also evidence of modern football trends, where players are evaluated fully by both performance and fan sentiment.

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