Nguyễn Hoàng Đức and Phạm Tuấn Hải (left) in action during the 2023-24 V.League 1 match. The two football stars are top candidates for the 2023 Golden Ball award. Photo courtesy of VPF

HÀ NỘI — Midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức is expected to gain his second statue while Phạm Tuấn Hải hopes to claim his first, as the winner of the Việt Nam's 2023 Golden Ball awards will be announced on February 19 in HCM City.

Launched in 1995 by the Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) Newspaper, the annual award aims to honour and recognise the contributions and achievements of national footballers during the year.

This year's event was scheduled in early January but delayed as the national team were busy for the Asian Cup.

The short list for the Best Male Player of the Year includes five candidates: Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh (Hà Nội Police), Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (Thể Công Viettel), Phạm Tuấn Hải (Hà Nội), Đặng Văn Lâm (Bình Định) and Hồ Tấn Tài (Hà Nội Police).

However, it is considered a race between Đức, who lifted the statue in 2021, and Hải, a rising star in the front lines of all teams that he joined.

According to pundits, Đức was appreciated for his stable performance in both domestic leagues and national team.

"Đức has a great influence on the team's playing style both in his club shirt and the national squad," said 1999 Golden Ball winner Trần Công Minh.

"His difference compared to other players is that he maintains good performance in every single match. In my opinion, Đức is the best candidate for the Golden Ball title this year." 

In the V.League 1 2023, he scored five goals and assisted five, contributing a big part to Thể Công-Viettel's third-place finish.

He netted one and had two assists for the club in the National Cup, which saw Thể Công-Viettel earning silver.

The 26-year-old player wrapped up the season with the Best V.League 1 Player award.

In the national team, Đức was one of key players in Philippe Troussier's tactics. His performance was so persuasive that the Frenchman also predicted that he would walk away with the statue.

While Đức was driving to the finish line like a rocket, he suffered an injury that prevented him from playing for Việt Nam in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers and the Asian Cup.

Striker Phạm Tuấn Hải is in the list of candidates for the Việt Nam's 2023 Golden Ball awards, to be announced on February 19 in HCM City. VNS Photo

It was time for Hải to shine and he appeared a big challenger.

In his first time competing in the AFC Champions League, Hải scored a double in Hà Nội's come-from-behind 2-1 win over Wuhan Three Towns of China.

Although Hà Nội did not qualify for the next stage, Hải scored a total four goals, the best performance of a Vietnamese player at event.

In the local league, he played a key role in lifting Hà Nội up after their four first poor matches at the V.League 1 2023-24.

The 25-year-old is also a usual face in Troussier's first XI. He scored two goals in Việt Nam's friendly matches against Syria and Palestine. His goal was one third of Việt Nam in 2023.

"While Đức was a big man in Thể Công-Viettel, Hải excelled in the teams' victory moments, in both matches of Hà Nội and the national squads," said journalist and commentator Vũ Quang Huy.

"His highlights were a goal against Syria and the explosive performances when Hà Nội faced Wuhan Three Towns and Urawa Reds at the Champions League.

"Both Đức and Hải deserve to win this year's Golden Ball."

In addition to the Best Male Player, organisers will also present awards to best players of different categories.

In the female category, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã and Phạm Hải Yến of Hà Nội 1 FC, Huỳnh Như of Lank FC, and Trần Thị Kim Thanh and Nguyễn Thị Bích Thủy of HCM City 1, are all contenders for the award.

Top five nominees for the Futsal Golden Ball include Phạm Đức Hòa, Nhan Gia Hưng, Châu Đoàn Phát and Hồ Văn Ý of Thái Sơn Nam FC, and Lâm Tấn Phát of Sahako FC.

Candidates for Male Young Player of the Year are Nguyễn Đình Bắc of Quảng Nam FC, Khuất Văn Khang of Thể Công Viettel and Nguyễn Thái Sơn of Thanh Hóa,

The Female Young Player of the Year will belong to one of three candidates: Ngọc Minh Chuyên of Thái Nguyên T&T FC, Vũ Thị Hoa of Hà Nội 1 or Vũ Thị Hoa of Phong Phú Hà Nam. — VNS