The Vietnam Golden Ball 2024 awards are set to take place on the evening of February 26 in Ho Chi Minh City. As the event approaches, three standout players are believed to be the frontrunners for the prestigious award.

The organizers have announced a shortlist of five players for the Vietnamese Men’s Golden Ball award: Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Quang Hai, and Nguyen Thanh Chung.

However, sources indicate that Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Thanh Chung will not be attending the gala, suggesting that the top three finalists for the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Ball awards are likely Tien Linh, Hoang Duc, and Tuan Hai.

The battle for the Golden Ball is expected to be intense, with both Tien Linh and Hoang Duc having strong credentials, while Tuan Hai is a likely contender for the Bronze Ball.

Tien Linh was Vietnam’s second-highest scorer at the 2024 ASEAN Cup, netting four goals. He also scored a brace against the Philippines in the second round of World Cup 2026 qualifiers, marking a strong start under new head coach Kim Sang Sik. Additionally, he scored in Vietnam’s friendly against Thailand in September 2023.

At the club level, Tien Linh has been equally impressive. In the 2024/25 V-League season, he has scored 10 goals, leading the Golden Boot race. Across all competitions, he has contributed 26 goals, outperforming other top domestic attackers like Tuan Hai (16 goals) and Quang Hai (15 goals).

Meanwhile, Nguyen Hoang Duc, playing as a playmaker, was pivotal in Vietnam’s ASEAN Cup campaign. He particularly shined in both legs of the final against Thailand, earning widespread praise for his performances. Throughout the tournament, he played all 8 matches, accumulating the most minutes on the pitch (638 minutes) despite not scoring.

If Hoang Duc secures the Golden Ball, this would be his third time winning the award. For Tien Linh, it would be his first Golden Ball victory.

On February 25, striker Nguyen Xuan Son arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to attend the Vietnam Golden Ball gala, where he is the top contender for the Best Foreign Player award.

His main competitors in this category are Hendrio Araujo (Thep Xanh Nam Dinh) and Alan Grafite (Hanoi Police FC). Xuan Son, who previously played under the name Rafaelson, won the award last year. Given his stellar performances at both club and national team levels, he is widely expected to win again this year.

Dai Nam