Nguyen Hoang Duc wins Vietnamese Golden Ball Award 2021

With 466 points, Hoang Duc beat Quang Hai by 94 points and Tien Linh by 261 points, becoming the 18th owner of the Golden Ball and the first player of Viettel FC to be honoured with the award.

The result meant the Golden Ball has been awarded to seven different players in the past seven years - the longest streak since the award's debut in 1995.

Hoang Duc played a total of 17 matches for the Vietnamese men's national team in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers and the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2021. Despite scoring only one goal, the 24-year-old midfielder played a big role in the Vietnamese team's common playing style, both in defence and attack.

"I am very happy and also surprised when receiving this award," Hoang Duc said during ceremony on Wednesday night,

Settling for second place in the vote, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai won the Silver Ball Award, marking the fifth time in six years he has made the top three. Meanwhile, forward

Nguyen Tien Linh was awarded with the Bronze Ball in his first-ever top-three finish.

On the women's side, forward Huynh Nhu equalled Doan Thi Kim Chi's Golden Ball record as she took the award for the third time in a row and the fourth time in her career.

The Tra Vinh-born player got 554 points, above the Silver Ball winner Pham Hai Yen (201 points) and the Bronze Ball recipient Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (140 points).

Goalkeeper Ho Van Y was named the winner of the Futsal Golden Ball 2021 with 564 points, which was well-deserved following his exceptional showing during the Futsal World Cup 2021 in Lithuania as Vietnam advanced to the last 16 for the second consecutive time.

Chau Doan Phat (235 points) and Nguyen Minh Tri (147 points) claimed the Silver and Bronze Ball, respectively.

(Source: NDO)