Coach Kim Sang Sik did not vote for Hoàng Đức to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Coach Kim Sang Sik made a notable decision by not voting for Hoàng Đức in the top category of the 2025 Vietnamese Ballon d'Or awards.

The 2025 Vietnamese Ballon d'Or ceremony concluded on the evening of December 26 at Bến Thành Theater, where midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức continued to affirm his status as a leading star by winning the highest honor. This marks the third time Hoàng Đức has reached the top podium, after 2021 and 2023, and he also received the Fans' Favorite Player award. With a total of 353 points, Hoàng Đức led far ahead of runner-up Nguyễn Đình Bắc by 75 points, demonstrating strong consensus from experts and the media.

However, the most striking highlight after the Gala was not the final result, but the vote from Vietnam’s head coach, Kim Sang Sik. According to insider sources, the Korean coach did not vote for Hoàng Đức in the top category. Instead, he chose Nguyễn Quang Hải for the Ballon d'Or, with Hoàng Đức second for the Silver Ball and Nguyễn Đình Bắc third.

This choice immediately sparked diverse opinions. For the majority of fans, Hoàng Đức was absolutely deserving based on the number of votes and his influence throughout 2025.

The 1998-born midfielder played a central role in the team’s tactics, contributing greatly to Ninh Bình’s victory in the National First Division and maintaining the top position in the V.League standings this season. Hoàng Đức’s consistency, tactical vision, and game management are considered key factors behind this success.

On the other hand, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s perspective reflects a personal and professional evaluation.

In 2025, Quang Hải also achieved an impressive record with the 2024/25 National Cup title, the 2025 National Super Cup, runner-up in the 2024/25 Southeast Asian Club Championship, and participation in the knockout stages of the 2025/26 AFC Champions League. Additionally, Quang Hải’s club currently ranks second in the 2025/26 V.League standings, showing stability both domestically and regionally.

Meanwhile, Nguyễn Đình Bắc emerged as the outstanding young talent of the year with a double triumph of the National Cup and National Super Cup at club level, plus the 2025 U23 Southeast Asia Championship title and the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games with the U22/U23 Vietnam team. His winning of the Silver Ball and Best Young Male Player awards also reflects his significant progress over the past year.

In reality, the Vietnamese Ballon d'Or is always an award that balances achievements, influence, and the subjective views of each voter. Coach Kim Sang Sik’s choice did not alter the final outcome but sparked an interesting debate about how to assess a player’s value in the same successful year.

This also shows that Vietnamese football has many outstanding individuals capable of creating deep and diverse competition for titles with differing opinions.