Dinh Bac will miss the Vietnam Golden Ball Gala 2025.
Striker Nguyen Dinh Bac, along with coach Kim Sang Sik and other key players of the Vietnam U23 team, will be absent from the 2025 Golden Ball awards ceremony due to a scheduling conflict with an important training camp in Qatar.
The most anticipated event in Vietnamese domestic football this year – the 2025 Vietnam Golden Ball Awards Gala – will officially take place on the evening of December 26th at the Ben Thanh Theater in Ho Chi Minh City. However, unfortunate news has just been confirmed: all the stars of the Vietnam U23 team, including strong contender Nguyen Dinh Bac and head coach Kim Sang Sik, will not be able to attend the awards ceremony in person.
Prioritizing national tasks in Qatar
The reason for the absence of these key players is due to scheduling conflicts with preparations for the continental tournament. Specifically, on December 26th, Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team will officially depart for Qatar for a training camp. This is a crucial period for the entire team to refine their playing style and prepare for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship Finals, which will take place in Saudi Arabia shortly thereafter.
In Qatar, the Vietnam U23 team is expected to have a high-quality friendly match against Syria U23 before facing off against Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and host nation Saudi Arabia. Focusing entirely on technical aspects of the game during this period is considered the top priority for the coaching staff and players.
A regrettable loss for the strongest candidate.
Nguyen Dinh Bac's absence leaves many fans disappointed, as this striker is a promising prospect with the opportunity to win major titles. The 2004-born forward not only made it onto the Top 5 shortlist for the Men's Golden Ball but was also the leading candidate for the Best Young Player of the Year award.
Dinh Bac is on the verge of making history as he could become the third youngest player to win the Vietnamese Golden Ball at the age of 21 years and 4 months. Over the past year, the striker has amassed an impressive collection of achievements: 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship (also Best Player of the tournament), National Cup with Hanoi Police FC, and a Gold Medal at the 33rd SEA Games.
List of notable absent players
Besides Dinh Bac, many other young talents also missed the Gala awards ceremony on the evening of December 26th:
- Goalkeeper Trung Kien:This face is among the Top 5 nominees for the 2025 Men's Ballon d'Or.
- Hieu Minh and Thanh Nhan:These two names are among the top 3 nominees for the Young Player of the Year award.
Although they couldn't receive the award in person at the Ben Thanh Theater, the efforts and dedication of the young players over the past year are undeniable. Their sacrifice of personal honors to focus on representing their country is expected to help Vietnamese football create new miracles in upcoming continental competitions.
