2017 Men's Ballon d'Or: What will happen?

(Baonghean.vn) - According to the organizers, five players – Nguyen Anh Duc (Becamex Binh Duong FC), Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC), Tran Phi Son (SLNA FC), Dinh Thanh Trung (Quang Nam FC), and Luong Xuan Truong (Gangwon FC - National Team) – have made the shortlist. What would happen if, at the Gala held at the VOH Theater (Voice of the People of Ho Chi Minh City) at 7:30 PM on January 2nd, 2018, Luong Xuan Truong were named the winner of the Golden Ball award?

The Vietnamese Golden Ball, organized by SGGP since 1995, is modeled after the European Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or), an annual football award given to the best player of the year by France Football magazine.

Initially, reporters only voted for European players playing for European clubs, meaning players like Diego Maradona or Pelé would not be eligible for the vote.

Since 1995, the voting rules have changed, allowing non-European players to have a chance to win the award if they were playing for a club in Europe. In 2007, the award's voting rules changed again. Players from all countries and all clubs now have a chance to win the award.

The 2017 Ballon d'Or seems destined for Dinh Thanh Trung? Photo: AT

The nominees for the 2017 Golden Ball award for male players include 15 names: Quoc Chi (Sanna.KH), Tuan Manh (Sanna.KH), Ngoc Duy (Saigon FC), Anh Duc (B.BD), Quang Hai (Hanoi), Thanh Luong (Hanoi), Van Quyet (Hanoi), Trong Hoang (FLC Thanh Hoa), Phi Son (SLNA), Cong Phuong (HAGL), Xuan Truong (Gangwon), Van Thanh (HAGL), Van Toan (HAGL), Minh Tuan (Than.QN), and Thanh Trung (Quang Nam FC).

Before the first round of voting, Van Quyet (Hanoi FC) was disqualified due to a disciplinary suspension in the final match of the 2017 V-League season.

Recently, the organizing committee announced the five players named in the shortlist: Nguyen Anh Duc (Becamex Binh Duong FC), Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC), Tran Phi Son (SLNA FC), Dinh Thanh Trung (Quang Nam FC), and Luong Xuan Truong (Gangwon FC - National Team).

Participating in this year's voting were leaders from the sports industry, coaches, captains of V.League clubs, women's football, futsal, head coaches of national teams, football experts, and media representatives nationwide. The organizing committee distributed 185 ballots and received 180 valid votes.

Last year, Xuân Trường also surprised the audience by winning the Silver Ball in 2016. Photo: AT

It's quite surprising that Xuan Truong made this list. Actually, last year, Luong Xuan Truong won the Silver Ball, and there was some controversy surrounding that. Simply put, Xuan Truong was lackluster playing for Incheon United, and the Vietnamese national team didn't achieve much success.

This season, Xuan Truong moved to Gangwon United but only played 21 minutes and didn't perform particularly well at the national team level. The SEA Games 29 was a tournament where Xuan Truong showed his important role in the Vietnam U22 team, but the team didn't perform successfully.

Many viewers even argue that Xuan Truong is far behind Cong Phuong, who scored 22 goals this year.

Fans believe that the 2017 Golden Ball award seems to have been decided for Dinh Thanh Trung, while Anh Duc and Phi Son will compete for the Silver Ball, and Xuan Truong's name is merely included to enhance the voting process. However, if that's the case, it's unfair to the other players who have dedicated a year to Vietnamese football!

AT