Southeast Asian fans continuously debate about the Vietnamese Ballon d'Or

The 2025 Vietnamese Ballon d'Or award ceremony, which concluded on the night of December 26 at Ben Thanh Theater (Ho Chi Minh City), rapidly sparked lively debates within Southeast Asia’s football community.

According to the official results, Hoàng Đức reaffirmed his status as a top star in Vietnamese football by winning the 2025 Men's Ballon d'Or, and was also honored as the Most Popular Player voted by the audience. This marks the third time the midfielder born in 1998 has reached the pinnacle of glory, following his wins in 2021 and 2023. Meanwhile, Nguyễn Đình Bắc, a young player who impressed throughout 2025,finished second with the Silver Ball, along with the title of Best Young Male Player. The Bronze Ball was awarded to Nguyễn Quang Hải.

Immediately after the results were announced, a wave of discussion erupted among Southeast Asian football fans (ASEAN FOOTBALL fanpage) across forums and social media. One fan wrote: “Surely this award must have been given to a country known for forging documents (Malaysia).”

However, not all Indonesian fans dismissed Hoàng Đức's individual talent. Another user openly compared: “Hoàng Đức > Rizky Ridho”, indirectly acknowledging the Vietnamese midfielder's class by ranking him above one of Indonesia's current standout stars.

Contrary to the skeptical opinions, many Thai fans praised Hoàng Đức after he claimed the Vietnamese Ballon d'Or for the third time. A Thai fan commented: “Hoàng Đức plays very smartly, controls the tempo and manages the game well; he is a top midfielder in Southeast Asia”.

Not only Thailand, but Myanmar fans also expressed admiration for Hoàng Đức. One comment read: “Hoàng Đức is one of the rare Vietnamese players who can perform well in any tactical system; he truly stands out compared to others in the region”.

Despite the controversies, it is undeniable that the 2025 Vietnamese Ballon d'Or Gala honored the most deserving figures in the nation's football. In the women's category, Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy won the Ballon d'Or for the first time after surpassing two experienced seniors, Phạm Hải Yến (Silver Ball) and Trần Thị Thùy Trang (Bronze Ball). Meanwhile, in futsal, Châu Đoàn Phát continued to demonstrate consistency by winning the Ballon d'Or ahead of Từ Minh Quang and Nguyễn Đa Hải.

Additionally, the organizers presented awards recognizing the contributions and persistent efforts of many other individuals. Tuyết Dung was honored with the Dedication Award, Lưu Hoàng Vân received the Best Young Female Player Award, and foreign player Alan was named Best Foreign Player.