Kim Sang Sik and Duy Manh cast different votes at FIFA The Best.
The FIFA The Best Gala in Doha on the morning of December 17th named Ousmane Dembele as the winner. However, the votes of coach Kim Sang Sik and captain Do Duy Manh differed significantly.
In the early hours of December 17th (Vietnam time), the FIFA The Best awards gala in Doha, Qatar, named Ousmane Dembele as the world's best male player. The French star stood on the highest podium for the second consecutive time, concluding a brilliant season with Paris Saint-Germain with a historic quintuple, including the Champions League.
For Vietnamese football fans, the focus also lies on the votes of the two national representatives: Head Coach Kim Sang Sik and Captain Do Duy Manh. Looking at the same season, they presented two very different priorities — and that detail clearly reflects each person's professional "taste".
Dembele won, but he wasn't the first choice for everyone.
Dembele ascended to the top of the FIFA The Best list after a stellar season with PSG. According to the original article, he finished the past season with 37 goals and 15 assists – a record strong enough to make a year a significant factor in any individual awards.
But it is in the "counter-trend" votes, like those of coach Kim Sang Sik, that the story becomes more interesting: while the majority of experts favored Dembele, Kim did not include the PSG star in the top 3.
Two ballots, two perspectives
Coach Kim Sang Sik's choice leaned towards individuals capable of carrying the team and maintaining consistency in a fiercely competitive environment. Meanwhile, Do Duy Manh's vote closely followed global trends, placing absolute faith in Dembele.
| Vietnam representative | Rank 1 | Second place | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coach Kim Sang Sik | Cole Palmer (Chelsea) | Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) | Nuno Mendes (PSG) |
| Do Duy Manh | Ousmane Dembele | Kylian Mbappe | Nuno Mendes |
Why did Coach Kim Sang Sik's vote attract attention?
The biggest highlight was the exclusion of Dembele from the top 3. Kim gave the highest scores to Cole Palmer, followed by Harry Kane and Nuno Mendes. According to the original article, this choice shows his appreciation for players who can "carry" the team and provide stability in demanding leagues like the Premier League or Bundesliga.
Do Duy Manh's vote: in agreement with the majority, leaning towards Ligue 1.
In contrast to his coach, Do Duy Manh placed Dembele in first place — coinciding with the final result in Doha. The 1996-born center-back also prioritized French stars currently playing in Ligue 1, ranking Kylian Mbappe second and Nuno Mendes third.
From a defensive player's perspective, Duy Mạnh's inclusion of Nuno Mendes in the top 3 is also noteworthy: amidst a poll often dominated by goal tally and attacking prowess, a defender still holds a place on the priority list of both Vietnamese representatives.
Related information: the ideal team of 2025 and the case of Raphinha.
FIFA also announced the 2025 Team of the Year with several surprises, as Barcelona star Raphinha was left out despite a breakout season and winning the La Liga Player of the Year award.
Looking at it more broadly, the difference in the votes of coaches Kim Sang Sik and Do Duy Manh means that FIFA The Best is not just about who wins, but also about how people judge "the best" — individual performance, impact on the team, or impact in big matches.
