Top 3 Vietnam Golden Ball 2021: What opportunities are there for Nghe An players?

In addition to Que Ngoc Hai, there are also Tran Nguyen Manh, Nguyen Trong Hoang, Phan Van Duc and Nguyen Cong Phuong. These are the players who have just joined the Vietnam National Team to participate.AFF Cup 2020and matches in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, where coach Park Hang-seo and his team are present in the final qualifying round.

Objectively speaking, among the 5 faces mentioned above, only Que Ngoc Hai and Tran Nguyen Manh played quite impressively. While Hai "Que" still proved his ability as a top central defender in Southeast Asian football, Tran Nguyen Manh was the goalkeeper who conceded the fewest goals at the AFF Cup 2020 (2 goals).

Que Ngoc Hai (number 3) is still a reliable stopper in the defense of the Vietnam National Team. Photo: VNN

However, according to the majority of experts and football fans in the country, the chance of Tran Nguyen Manh and Que Ngoc Hai entering the Top 3 of the 2021 Vietnam Golden Ball is not really high. Simply, the "opponents" that they will have to compete directly with are much more formidable, typically Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc.

First is the case of Nguyen Tien Linh. The striker currently playing for B.Binh Duong has scored 7 goals for the Vietnam National Team in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, up to now. Accordingly, Nguyen Tien Linh has become the striker who has scored the most goals for the Vietnam National Team in the qualifying round of a World Cup (the old record belonged to famous player Nguyen Hong Son).

Next is the case of Nguyen Quang Hai. The Hanoi player is one of the faces of the Vietnam National Team with the most stable performance in 2021. From the 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds of the 2022 World Cup in Asia to the 2020 AFF Cup, Hai "con" has always shown his star quality and importance to the team led by coach Park Hang-seo.

Nguyen Hoang Duc (No. 14) is the strongest candidate for the 2021 Vietnam Golden Ball award. Photo: VNN

The remaining case is Nguyen Hoang Duc. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the midfielder currently playing for Viettel is the Vietnamese player with the most remarkable progress in the past year. As a "substitute" for Do Hung Dung in the central midfield position, Nguyen Hoang Duc has played extremely well, alongside Nguyen Tuan Anh or Nguyen Quang Hai in the midfield area.

At the AFF Cup 2020, Nguyen Hoang Duc contributed 1 goal and 2 assists for the Vietnam National Team. It is no coincidence that the player born in 1998 was nominated by the Organizing Committee for the title "Breakthrough Star of the AFF Cup 2020". A worthy recognition for the excellent performances of the player from Hai Duong at the tournament that just ended in Singapore.

Another disadvantage of Tran Nguyen Manh and Que Ngoc Hai compared to Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc is that the votes are often given to players playing in the attack line. Even the most prestigious award in world football, France Football (European Golden Ball), also faces a similar problem.

Therefore, it is likely that the Top 3 of the Vietnam Golden Ball in the category for male players will be the presence of Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh. If that happens, since the vote held at the end of 2008, where former SLNA goalkeeper Duong Hong Son won, there has not been another player from Nghe An who has owned the above noble title.

The 2021 Vietnam Golden Ball Awards Ceremony is expected to take place in mid-February 2022, right before the 2022 season officially kicks off./.