HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải has been named among the 24 best footballers in Asia in 2018, FOX Sports Asia has announced.

This is the first time a Vietnamese player has been named on the list, compiled by China’s Titan Sports and FOX Sports Asia.

Besides Hải, Southeast Asia is also represented on the list by Filipino goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who shines in the English Premier League for Cardiff City.

“Nguyễn Quang Hải started the year playing a major part in Việt Nam reaching the final of the AFC U-23 Championship and continued his fine performances throughout 2018, culminating in a brilliant showing that won him the Most Valuable Player prize as Việt Nam won the AFF Suzuki Cup for only the second time in their history,” foxsportsasia.com wrote.

More than 40 sport reporters from countries in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will vote on the candidates to name one of them the best footballer in Asia.

The Best Footballer in Asia award was fist given in 2013. It is one of the most prestigious events of the year for Asian footballers.

Earlier, the AFC also named Hải one of the 10 most anticipated young stars at the 2019 Asian Cup, to be held from January 5 to February 1 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Seeing Hải’s outstanding performance, Malaysian Super League club Selangor FA from the city of Shah Alam are hoping to recruit the young player.

“We know it won’t be easy to have Hải’s signature at this time,” Melvyn Lim, media and events manager of Selangor FA, said to vov.vn. “He is a continental-level footballer so we probably only have a one per cent chance of buying him.” — VNS