Nguyen Hoang Duc is one of the youngest players to receive the Golden Ball in Vietnam. Photo: DP
Cong Vinh successfully closed 2004 with a double award of “Best Young Player of the Year” and the Vietnam Golden Ball at the age of 19 years, 3 months and 5 days. This is a worthy achievement for the striker born in 1985 when he had 11 goals in his first professional season, helping Song Lam Nghe An rank 4th in V.League 2004-2005. In addition, Cong Vinh is also the top scorer of the National Cup with 5 goals.
In particular, the former captain of Becamex Binh Duong is also the only player to win the Vietnam Golden Ball title for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007).
Le Cong Vinh attracted attention when receiving the 2004 Vietnam Golden Ball with a swollen left eye and stitches due to injury. Photo: SGGP
Before Cong Vinh, another player from Song Lam Nghe An was honored to receive the Golden Ball at the age of 19, Pham Van Quyen. The year 2003 marked the remarkable progress of the striker born in 1984 at both the team and club levels.
At V.League, Van Quyen had 9 goals to help Song Lam Nghe An finish in 5th place. At SEA Games 22, Van Quyen contributed 4 goals, notably 2 goals against the defending champions. Thailand, helping U23 Vietnam win a silver medal. Not only that, he is also the owner of the historic goal that helped Vietnam defeat Korea 1-0 in the 2004 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Pham Van Quyen won the Vietnam Golden Ball at the age of 19 years, 10 months, and 4 days. Photo: SGGP
Pham Thanh Luong received the first Golden Ball of his career at the age of 21 years, 8 months, 8 days, after a year of successful competition at the club, U23 and national team levels. The midfielder, born in 1988, wore the captain’s armband and contributed greatly to helping U23 Vietnam win the silver medal at the 25th SEA Games.
He is also an important factor in the Hanoi ACB shirt, with the team promoted to V.League 2010. The above achievement helped Thanh Luong surpass Vu Phong and goalkeeper Tan Truong to receive the title of Vietnam Golden Ball 2009.
Pham Thanh Luong holds the record of receiving the Vietnam Golden Ball title four times (2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016). Photo: SGGP
Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai had a successful 2018 with a double AFF Cup and V.League championship title, thanks to his stable performance in the Vietnam and Hanoi national team. At the AFF Cup, the midfielder born in 1997 had 3 goals, 2 assists and was the best player of the tournament.
At the club level, Quang Hai had 9 goals, an important factor helping Hanoi take the throne in V.League 2018-2019. In addition, this midfielder also showed a brilliant performance with 5 goals, helping U23 Vietnam win the Asian U23 runner-up position. This achievement helped Quang Hai win the Golden Ball for the first time at the age of 21 years, 8 months, 22 days.
Nguyen Quang Hai marked a successful 2018 with the title of Vietnam Golden Ball at the age of 21 years, 8 months, 22 days. Photo: SGGP